PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid, the center for the Philadelphia 76ers, will miss his second straight game on Sunday due to swelling in his left knee, the team announced.
At halftime of Friday’s NBA Cup game against the Brooklyn Nets, the Sixers released a statement regarding the 2023 NBA MVP’s condition, stating that the team’s medical staff collaborated in the decision to bench Embiid. Before Friday’s game against the Nets, Embiid was sidelined for what the team described as maintenance on a left knee ailment. On Sunday, the Sixers will host the Los Angeles Clippers.
According to the team’s release, Joel Embiid is controlling swelling in his left knee. Embiid missed tonight’s game and will miss Sunday’s as well, according to the team’s medical staff. He is undergoing treatment, and early next week we will share more information on his condition.
During coach Nick Nurse’s pregame media conference, Embiid announced a game-time decision after initially being listed as questionable in injury reports prior to the game. Embiid, however, was ruled out 30 minutes prior to tip-off and never took part in warm-ups.
After the club defeated the Nets 113-98, Nurse said, “It’s something that we knew we were going to be dealing with going into the season.” They tried all they could to reduce the swelling, but it didn’t feel comfortable enough to go.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Jake LaRavia in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Associated Press/Brandon Dill photo
Shortly after the pregame press conference, we were quite certain that he wouldn’t be able to attend today. They took another look at it during the game, halftime, or whatever, and determined that they needed to treat it this weekend and proceed from there.
When media arrived in the locker room following Friday night’s game, Embiid wasn’t there.
In a 117-111 defeat that saw the Sixers fall to 2-12, Embiid played Wednesday night in Memphis, recording a season-high 35 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Despite appearing to be hobbling and limping at points due to a knee injury against the Grizzlies, Embiid continued to play as Philadelphia fought back into contention in the fourth quarter.
On Friday night, Embiid was on the sidelines with Paul George. George will not be able to play until at least next week due to a bruise on his left knee bone sustained during Wednesday’s game. Tyrese Maxey, the third member of the Sixers’ projected Big Three guards, made his comeback against Memphis following a two-week absence due to a hamstring injury. This season, Embiid, Maxey, and George have only appeared together in one game.
Due to knee management issues and a three-game suspension, Embiid missed Philadelphia’s first ten games and has missed 11 of 15 games so far this season.
After tearing the meniscus in his left knee against Golden State on January 30, the 30-year-old Embiid was only able to play 39 games the previous season, primarily due to knee surgery.
Before training camp, Embiid signed a $193 million contract and missed the whole preseason, despite helping the United States win gold at the Olympics in Paris.
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