PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The 76ers’ championship run rests on the condition of Joel Embiid’s achy left knee.

Embiid, Philadelphia’s All-Star center, is doubtful to play Saturday in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets because of tendinitis in his left knee that cost him most of the final month of the season

“If I can’t go, it means it’s pretty painful,” Embiid said Friday.

Embiid noted he only feels discomfort jumping, moving or landing.

In other words, it hurts to play basketball.

Embiid will make the call if he can suit up Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center.

“It’s my decision because I’m the one feeling the pain and it’s my body,” he said.

He’s doubtful on the injury report and he took another guess on social media Friday night with the caption “it’s that time of the year” and a slideshow of Embiid playing against Brooklyn, Toronto, Boston and the Golden State Warriors — a possible combination of teams that Sixers would have to beat in order to win their first NBA title since 1983.

Embiid (who averages 27.5 points and 11.1 rebounds) has been hurt since the All-Star break, and an MRI in February revealed no structural damage. He had physical therapy, ice and rest to alleviate the tendinitis but not much has changed.

The Sixers (51-31) can certainly afford to rest Embiid for another game or two. Yes, the Nets are a pesky No. 6 seed in the East, but the Sixers boast perhaps the best starting five in the East with Embiid, All-Star Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, JJ Redick and Tobias Harris. Harris and Butler were acquired this season by first-year general manager Elton Brand with the Sixers in a win-now mode. Coach Brett Brown hasn’t backed down from his preseason boast that the Sixers could reach the NBA Finals, and Brand said this week the Sixers need to at least get past the second round.

“We have the best team I’ve ever coached,” Brown said.

Without or without Embiid, the Sixers are a favorite to zip past the Nets. Embiid had a broken orbital bone and missed the first two games of last season’s first-round series against Miami, and the Sixers still won in five.

Beyond that, it gets sticky for the Sixers.

Embiid missed 14 of the final 24 games of the regular season and played just 64 this season. Even if he plays Saturday, he’s clearly in pain and his injury history offers no assurances his body can hold up over two grueling months and the possible 28 games needed to win a title.

“It’s about the pain in my knee,” he said. “I’ve just got to keep working through it.”

The Sixers roared into the postseason on a 16-game winning streak a year ago and took Game 1 against the Heat, then lost to Boston in the East semis. They went 4-6 down the stretch this season, only heightening Philly’s annoyance level. Brown has been weary discussing Embiid’s injury and twice this week shut down repeated attempts at questions on the center’s status.

“Please refer to your (injury) sheet and I’m happy to talk about hoops,” he said.

There’s also this — in a postseason full of gamesmanship, would anyone truly be surprised if Embiid walked out to a rocking ovation when starting lineups are introduced?