NBA playoffs: Schedule for Sixers second-round series hinges on Celtics vs. Hawks Game 5
Schedule for Sixers in Round 2 hinges on Celtics-Hawks Game 5 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
As the first team to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs, the Sixers have the luxury of watching and waiting.
On Sunday night, they got an official picture of what might be next.
Following the Celtics' Game 4 win in Atlanta to take a 3-1 series lead over the Hawks, the NBA outlined two potential scenarios for the Sixers in Round 2.
If Boston eliminates Atlanta with a Game 5 victory Tuesday night, a Sixers-Celtics series would be played on the following dates. The No. 2 seed Celtics would hold home-court advantage. Of course, Games 5 through 7 would only happen if necessary.
Game 1: Saturday, April 29
Game 2: Monday, May 1
Game 3: Friday, May 5
Game 4: Sunday, May 7
Game 5: Tuesday, May 9
Game 6: Thursday May 11
Game 7: Sunday, May 14
If Celtics-Hawks lasts six or seven games, then the Sixers' second-round series would be played on these dates:
Game 1: Monday, May 1
Game 2: Wednesday, May 3
Game 3: Friday, May 5
Game 4: Sunday, May 7
Game 5: Tuesday, May 9
Game 6: Thursday, May 11
Game 7: Sunday, May 14
After sweeping the Nets, the Sixers had Sunday off. They won't practice Monday either. The rest before Round 2 is nice regardless, but it appears quite likely the Sixers would prefer that latter scenario above with Game 1 on May 1, especially given MVP favorite Joel Embiid's status is currently up in the air.
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said Saturday the chances of Embiid returning from his right knee sprain to be available for the start of the second round were "probably 50 percent, at best."
In the Sixers' one regular-season victory over Boston, Embiid scored 52 points on 20-for-25 shooting against the shorthanded Celtics.
“Obviously, today was big for us so we can get big fella healthy," James Harden said after beating Brooklyn in Game 4. “That’s priority No. 1. And then just making sure that we keep our individual skill set work right. I guess we’ve got to wait and figure out who we play next. Both teams would be a challenge so for us, I think it’s just making sure we’re healthy as a whole.”
