The Philadelphia 76ers are bracing for the potential absence of Joel Embiid at the start of their first-round playoff series against the Hornets, as reported by Shams Charania. Currently dealing with appendicitis, Embiid’s participation remains uncertain, casting a spotlight on teammates Paul George and Tyrese Maxey to step up in his place. While there’s hope he might return later in the series, the team is strategizing accordingly for the initial games without their star center.