Joel Embiid questionable for Friday against Celtics

By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly editor  

The Philadelphia 76ers were back at practice in Camden on Thursday ahead of their game in Boston on Friday night and rookie phenom Joel Embiid is listed as questionable for the match-up with gastroenteritis. 

•Embiid (gastroenteritis) did not practice; questionable for BOS
•Covington (lower back contusion) left practice early; questionable for BOS

— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) January 5, 2017

Embiid, 22, has been the center of both the offense and defense for the Sixers this season, averaging 19.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 25 minutes per game. If Embiid misses Friday's game, he'll be the third Sixer to sit with gastroenteritis this season, joining Jahlil Okafor and Sergio Rodriguez. 

If Joel Embiid misses the game, Richaun Holmes could take his place after completing a rehab assignment with the Delaware 87ers on Wednesday. He scored 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds. If by chance Embiid is better on Friday, Holmes will stay back and suit up for the Sevens again.

In other injury news that was noted in the above tweet, both Gerald Henderson and Sergio Rodriguez could return to the floor after missing a combined five games. Henderson, the teams' starting shooting guard is averaging 9.4 points on 45.5 percent shooting in just under 25 minutes per game. Meanwhile, Rodriguez is averaging 9.3 points and 6.2 assists per game, but TJ McConnell has done an admirable job in his absence as the Sixers are 3-0 with TJ running the point from the start, winning their last two.