By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly editor 
On Wednesday night, Joel Embiid (orbital fracture) said it was "unlikely" he'd take the floor for the Sixers against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Saturday night.
Brett Brown confirmed on Friday that Embiid will not play for the Sixers in Game 1, as he went on the Dan Patrick Show Friday morning.
It’s offiicial. #Sixers center @JoelEmbiid will not play in Game 1. Coach Brett Brown confirmed it this morning on the Dan Patrick Show. pic.twitter.com/FFtMSXIVfH
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) April 13, 2018
Embiid has been sidelined since March 28 with a fractured orbital bone of his left eye. While he was cleared of the concussion, he is still recovering from surgery. The wonder is still there if Embiid will play in any of the further games after Game 1.
“He will not play in Game 1, and from that point going forward, we’ll figure some out,” Brown told Patrick. “Unless something remarkable happens, Dan, I don’t plan on him playing in Game 1.”
The Sixers have not lost since Embiid went down with the injury, as they are 8-0 during that time. As it has been with those eight games, expect Amir Johnson to start in Embiid's place with Richaun Holmes getting backup minutes off the bench.
