Philadelphia 76ers Star Joel Embiid Sidelined with Knee Injury
In a disappointing turn of events for the Philadelphia 76ers, star player Joel Embiid will be sitting out Thursday’s game against the Utah Jazz. The team has announced that Embiid’s left knee will undergo further evaluation in the next 24 hours, according to a team official who spoke with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. As a result, Embiid will be traveling back to Philadelphia instead of joining the team in Utah.
The injury occurred during Tuesday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors. With just over four minutes left in the game, Embiid found himself double-teamed by Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green. In an attempt to retrieve the ball after Kuminga poked it away, Embiid fell to the ground, and Kuminga inadvertently fell on top of his knee. The star player immediately grabbed his knee in pain and was visibly distressed. Despite getting up and limping to the locker room, Embiid did not return to the game.
This is not the first time Embiid has dealt with knee issues this season. He had already missed two games due to knee soreness in the same knee before this recent injury. In fact, earlier in January, he missed three games because of left knee swelling. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that managing this injury will be an ongoing challenge for both Embiid and the Philadelphia team for the remainder of the season.
Embiid’s absence from Thursday’s game is significant not only for the 76ers but also for his individual accolades. As the reigning NBA MVP, he can only miss five more games before becoming ineligible for postseason awards, including All-NBA team honors and MVP. This is due to a new league rule that requires players to participate in a minimum of 65 games to qualify.
When healthy, Embiid has been a force to be reckoned with on the court. He currently leads the NBA in scoring, averaging an impressive 35.3 points per game. Additionally, he contributes 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game, showcasing his versatility as a player. Just a few weeks ago, Embiid made headlines when he scored a franchise-record 70 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in a victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Unfortunately, the 76ers have struggled during their current five-game trip, losing all four games so far. Embiid’s absence will undoubtedly be felt by the team as they face off against the Utah Jazz without their star player.
It remains to be seen how long Embiid will be sidelined and how this injury will impact the remainder of the season for both him and the Philadelphia 76ers. Fans and teammates alike will be anxiously awaiting updates on his condition and hoping for a swift recovery.