Joel Embiid is Expected to Miss more Games, and the Sixers are likely to be Severely…..
The Philadelphia 76ers have been one of the biggest surprises this season, but their season is in jeopardy of going into the tank. As star big man Joel Embiid will likely miss significant time after being ruled out for Thursday night’s game against the Utah Jazz yesterday evening.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Embiid, who was injured in Tuesday night’s loss to Golden State, will receive further evaluation on his left knee in the next 24 hours. Woj added that Embiid will likely head back to Philadelphia while the team prepares to face the Jazz.
Embiid sat out the two prior games due to knee soreness before returning against the Warriors. But even with the big fella back in the lineup, things didn’t go as planned and got worse as the game went on. Kyle Neubeck of AllPhily.com said that Embiid was laboring a bit in warmups.
Then, with just over four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga fell on Embiid’s leg as he dove for a loose ball. Embiid immediately grabbed the knee and was in “visible pain.”
Embiid is once again having an MVP-type season despite dealing with soreness in the knee for the entire season, per The Athletic’s Sam Amick. The 29-year-old reigning NBA MVP is in the midst of a historic season, leading the league in scoring at 35.3 points, sixth in rebounds (11.3) and 28th in assists (5.8).
Amick said there is a “strong sense” that Embiid will be out a few more games.
Tonight’s absence marks Embiid’s 13 missed games. Therefore, if Embiid misses five more games, he will be ineligible for end-of-the-season awards.
More significantly, for Philadelphia (29-17), it could be their season. The 76ers have struggled recently and entered the game against the Jazz on a season-high four-game skid. The Sixers, 3-9 in games without Embiid, sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. They have a three-game lead over the sixth-place Indiana Pacers.
The NBA is getting a lot of heat for their new “player” rule.
“Joel playing tonight felt very much so because of the 65-game rule,” Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green said on The Draymond Green Show. “I think it’s actually quite
Embiid may not only be the Sixer sitting out tonight. Tyrese Maxey and Nico Batum are questionable for the contest. Meanwhile, Marcus Morris Sr. is doubtful.
Maxey has missed the last three games with a left ankle sprain. Coach Nick Nurse said Wednesday that he was hopeful that Maxey could return for Thursday’s game.
Batum sat out the game against the Warriors due to a hamstring injury and is in real danger of missing another contest. Morris is also likely to sit out a second consecutive game due to a foot ailment.
It looks like that Nurse will have to piece together his rotation even if Maxey can go tonight.
Reed will once again start in place of Embiid. Reed is having a career year and has excelled as a starter. He averages 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in his previous 1o starts. The 24-year-old center has posted two double-doubles in these 10 contests. Kelly Oubre, Pat Beverley, Furkan Kormaz, and KJ Martin Jr. could see significant minutes again, depending on the three players’ status.
De’anthony Melton, Robert Covington, and Kenneth Lofton Jr. remain out.
On a positive note, Melton is slated to have his back re-evaluated this week. So, he may return sometime soon.
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