Joel Embiid, the star center for the Philadelphia 76ers, was officially ruled out of Game 3 in their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics due to recovery from an emergency appendectomy performed two weeks ago in Houston. Although Embiid had been ramping up his on-court activities, including participating in practice and a morning shootaround, the 76ers' medical staff decided he was not ready to compete. Coach Nick Nurse stated, "He's just not ready," highlighting the need for caution in his recovery process. Embiid, who averaged 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 38 games this season, previously played through significant health challenges during past playoffs, including a case of Bell's palsy. The team now looks ahead to Game 4 on Sunday evening in Philadelphia, with uncertainty surrounding Embiid's potential return to the lineup.