Joel Embiid will miss Game 2 of Sixers’ second-round series because of ankle and hip injuries
Embiid had been listed as probable to play Wednesday as recently as the 12:45 p.m. injury report, and was with the Sixers when they arrived at Madison Square Garden for their morning shootaround.
NEW YORK — Joel Embiid will miss Wednesday’s Game 2 of the 76ers’ second-round playoff series against the Knicks with a right ankle sprain and right hip soreness, according to the NBA’s official 1 p.m. injury report.
Embiid had been listed as probable to play Wednesday as recently as the 12:45 p.m. injury report, and was with the Sixers when they arrived at Madison Square Garden for their morning shootaround. He also was listed as probable entering Monday’s Game 1 with right hip soreness, before being officially upgraded to available 30 minutes before tipoff. He totaled 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting and four rebounds in the Sixers’ 137-98 blowout loss.
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Embiid also is still less than a month removed from an appendectomy, which kept him sidelined until Game 4 of the Sixers’ first-round upset of the Boston Celtics. His presence and production — he averaged 28 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in his four games he played in that series — were critical for the Sixers rallying from down three games to one to win in seven games.
During Monday’s Game 1 loss, the Knicks’ Mikal Bridges hit Embiid in his midsection on a screen — contact that Embiid after the game said he did not believe was “necessary” because ballhandler Tyrese Maxey had already gotten past both players.
“I don’t know if it was dirty or not,” Embiid said. “I guess I’ve got to do a better job of protecting, especially that part [of my body]. … Tyrese was already gone, and it was kind of after the play. I just felt like it wasn’t necessary, but we move on. It is whatever. It’s playoff basketball. If that’s the reality of it, I guess we got to go out and be physical, too, and do it, too.”
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Without Embiid, the Sixers will turn to Andre Drummond and Adem Bona at center against a Knicks team that boasts All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and rebounding machine Mitchell Robinson inside. Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker are additional frontcourt options.
This has been another injury-affected season for Embiid, who was limited to 38 regular-season games because of the appendectomy, an oblique strain, a shin stress reaction, and issues with both knees. He averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks during the regular season, and for a stretch from mid-December to early February looked like the dominant former NBA Most Valuable Player.
