With Joel Embiid in the roster, the Philadelphia 76ers perform significantly better.

It’s a well-known fact that the 76ers show a distinct style of play when the reigning NBA MVP graces the court. The question now lingers – will Embiid be fit to take the court on Wednesday against the Miami Heat in the NBA play-in round?

“Yeah, hopefully,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said of Embiid’s availability, per the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Not sure on anybody, but I’m hopeful.”

Embiid encountered a minor knee issue during the 76ers’ triumph over the Orlando Magic (125-113) last Friday, marking his fifth match following a two-month hiatus due to a meniscus tear.

The star, who boasted impressive stats of 34.7 points and 11.0 rebounds in just 39 games, decided to sit out the final game against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday as a precaution.

Reportedly, Embiid appeared unscathed during Monday’s practice, reassuring teammate Kelly Oubre Jr.

“He made shots. He looked normal. He looked like himself,” Oubre said, per the Inquirer. “But you could definitely tell the seriousness in his face, in his work ethic, and everything he’s doing in the way he’s carrying himself.”

“He wants to win, so it’s good to see him moving, doing his thing.”

Embiid put up an impressive show in Miami’s encounter on April 4, scoring 29 points to propel Philadelphia to a 109-105 victory over the Heat.

A similar stellar performance could secure the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference for the 76ers, setting the stage for a first-round clash against the New York Knicks in the runner-up spot.

The losing side in Wednesday’s game will face an elimination clash on Friday against either the Chicago Bulls or Atlanta Hawks for the eighth seed, pitting them against the top-seeded Boston Celtics.

Challenging the 76ers on Wednesday is Jimmy Butler, famously known as “Playoff Jimmy” for his postseason prowess.

Butler, who transitioned from the 76ers to the Heat in 2019, successfully guided Miami to two NBA Finals appearances within the last four seasons.

This season, the six-time All-Star maintained an average of 20.8 points, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals for the Heat, winning seven of their last ten games.

“We’re not the same group as last year,” Butler said, per the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “So we’ll leave that where it’s at and we’re moving forward with the group that we do have.

“But we, I, are very confident in the guys we do have and we know what we’re capable of.”

Contributing significantly, Bam Adebayo averaged 19.3 points and 10.4 rebounds this season.

Similar to Philadelphia, Miami faces its own injury concerns with Kevin Love exiting the final game against the Toronto Raptors due to a left arm issue.

Terry Rozier (neck) and Duncan Robinson (back) have both been absent for the past four games due to their respective injuries.