Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was released from the hospital Friday after undergoing a successful appendectomy and is returning to Philadelphia, the team announced.

The team added that Embiid’s surgical recovery will be managed by team physicians in consultation with his surgeon and a timeline for return to basketball activities has not yet been determined.

The 76ers lost 113-102 at Houston on Thursday without Embiid, who had the procedure earlier in the day in a Houston hospital. With the loss, Philadelphia (43-37) is tied with Charlotte for the eighth seed, although the 76ers own the tiebreaker.

Both teams are one game back of seventh-place Orlando (44-36) and two back of Toronto and Atlanta (45-35) who currently possess the final two playoff spots. With two games left, one more loss or one win by both the Hawks and Raptors would clinch a play-in tournament spot for Philadelphia.

Embiid, 32, is averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 38 games (all starts) this season.

The 2022-23 MVP and a seven-time All-Star, Embiid is averaging 27.6 points and 10.8 rebounds in 490 career games (all starts) since being selected by Philadelphia with the third overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft.

–Field Level Media