The Philadelphia 76ers have literally endured a big loss in the hours leading up to tip-off of Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Knicks.
Philadelphia’s injury report now lists franchise face Joel Embiid as out for Wednesday’s showdown at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). Embiid is said to be dealing with ankle and hip soreness and was originally labeled probable to partake.
This season has been another injury-riddled campaign for Embiid, who played less than 40 games for the third consecutive tour. He missed the final stages of the regular season due to an emergency appendectomy but returned to lead the Sixers back from a 3-1 deficit in their opening round series against Boston. He averaged 28 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in the final four games of that prior series.
Embiid, however, struggled in the opener against the Knicks on Monday, hitting just 3-of-11 from the field and scoring most of his 14 points at the foul line. The 2023 NBA MVP was seen briefly keeled over during second quarter action in Game 1 after Knicks rep Mikal Bridges made contract with his abdomen.
Embiid said he didn’t “know if it was dirty or not” but admitted he had to do a better job of protecting (his stomach)” in the aftermath (h/t Ky Carlin, Sixers Wire). New York won the game 137-98 to take the early lead in the best-of-seven set. Embiid has
The injury no doubt shifts momentum deeper into the New York corner: Philadelphia posted a 21-23 record sand Embiid this season and his postseason entry was widely viewed as the turning point of the bout with the Celtics. The Knicks, however, are well-versed in how dangerous an Embiid-less 76ers group can still potentially be.
The Knicks and Sixers split their four-game regular season set and the latter won the debut match on Dec. 19 sans Embiid. It was a game that saw Philadelphia sink 17 three-pointers, six alone coming from the arms of Tyrese Maxey. New York handled itself well in that department on Monday, limiting the Sixers to 11-of-30 from deep and forcing 19 turnovers.
