[The Big Fella re-enters stage left]

Joel Embiid is actually coming back. What does this mean for the East playoffs?

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

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Jacob’s Dream; Salvator Rosa; 1665

Adrian Wojnarowski with a monumental report on a Monday morning with the regular season winding down:

The return of Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is imminent and could come as soon as Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, sources told ESPN on Monday.

Embiid, who has been out since Jan. 30, has been delivering the final preparations for his return from left meniscus surgery, ramping up his conditioning in recent days to rejoin the Eastern Conference playoff chase.

As of the time I’m writing this early Tuesday morning, we still don’t know whether Embiid will play against the Thunder. The Sixers’ goal at this point should be making an attempt to climb to No. 6, which would get them out of the play-in and likely get them out of a first round series against the Celtics or Bucks. That’s critical to banking some more time letting the new Sixers like Kyle Lowry and Buddy Hield learn how to play with Embiid. It could also buy some time for a potential De’Anthony Melton return.

Philly does not have tiebreakers against the No. 6 Pacers or No. 7 Heat, and sits two back in the loss column already. It’s going to be difficult to climb out of No. 8. The Sixers have three games against teams above .500 remaining: Tuesday against the Thunder, then a game in Miami on Thursday and a match against the Magic next week. The other games are easily winnable, especially if Embiid is playing.