Sixers’ Joel Embiid to endure MRI after injuring left knee

SAN FRANCISCO — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will endure an MRI on his left knee after injuring it within the fourth quarter of Tuesday evening’s 119-107 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

The damage occurred with 4:04 left within the recreation as Embiid was being double-teamed by the Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Inexperienced. After Kuminga poked the ball away from him, Embiid fell to the bottom to retrieve the ball, and Kuminga subsequently fell on prime of his knee.

Embiid grabbed the knee and was in seen ache. He in the end bought up and limped to the locker room and didn’t return to the sport.

Embiid had missed the Sixers’ earlier two video games due to knee soreness in that very same knee. He was listed as questionable heading into Tuesday’s recreation, along with his ultimate standing determined after he warmed up.

“Medical cleared him, and Joel is a giant half in that. He stated he was feeling good,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse stated.

Nurse stated Tuesday’s damage is “form of unrelated to what’s been bothering” Embiid, including, “We simply have to attend.”

Regardless that Embiid stated he felt nicely sufficient to play Tuesday evening, he did not look like enjoying at 100%. All through the sport, there was little to no carry for Embiid when he defended the basket, making him far much less of a rim protector. Throughout one play, Embiid supplied a late problem on the basket, however his legs buckled beneath him with no contact and he fell to the ground.

On offense, Embiid did not assault the ring a lot, settling for 3-point and midrange pictures. When he did attempt to work his option to the ring, he did not look as explosive, however as a substitute tried to slowly and methodically again his defender down.

“He stated he is extra rusty — he hadn’t been on the court docket in 5 days, however he stated he felt good,” Nurse stated. “He felt like he wasn’t fairly enjoying like his regular self, however he felt like that was extra rust and rhythm than it was the rest.”

Embiid completed with 14 factors on 5-of-18 taking pictures to go together with seven rebounds, two assists and a team-low minus-21 web score.

Embiid missed three video games earlier in January on account of left knee swelling. ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne reported that the damage is one thing Embiid and Philadelphia must handle for the rest of the season.

Embiid can miss solely 5 extra video games earlier than changing into ineligible for postseason awards, together with All-NBA crew honors and MVP, due to the league’s new rule requiring a 65-game minimal.

After Tuesday’s loss, Nurse was requested if that rule influenced the choice to let Embiid play.

“I can not converse to that, however we’re going to proceed to do the entire issues which can be essential, that they have been doing the entire time he is been enjoying right here,” Nurse stated. “He has these checks, he will get to those factors, medicals are good, they test him once more, he says he is good, he even stated he felt good within the recreation tonight. We preserve relaying to that.”

The 76ers have sooner or later off earlier than enjoying the Utah Jazz on Feb. 1 in Salt Lake Metropolis.