The Philadelphia 76ers put up an excellent battle with out Joel Embiid, although might have used their man within the center once they struggled to attain within the closing minutes of Recreation 2 on Wednesday night time.
The 76ers had been restricted to 12 factors within the fourth quarter and misplaced 108-102 to the New York Knicks to fall right into a 2-0 deficit within the Japanese Convention semifinals.
Embiid was dominated out about six hours earlier than the sport with a sprained proper ankle and a sore proper hip. Coach Nick Nurse mentioned Embiid wakened with soreness and was handled throughout the 76ers’ morning shootaround. The crew’s medical workers decided afterward that Embiid can be unable to play.
Andre Drummond began and Adem Bona backed him up. They mixed for 15 rebounds however each had been in foul bother. Drummond took solely two photographs and Bona didn’t take any.
That’s nowhere close to the sort of offense the 76ers can depend on from Embiid, who has averaged 25.2 factors in 5 video games so far.
“We really feel like we must always have gained it,” 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe mentioned. “It got here right down to shot-making on the finish of the sport. They had been making photographs, we weren’t.”
Embiid struggled via a brief night time within the Knicks’ 137-98 romp in Recreation 1, scoring 14 factors on 3-for-11 taking pictures in 25 minutes earlier than the starters had been benched with the sport out of attain.
Embiid had been listed as possible to play in that sport with a bruised proper hip earlier than being cleared, and the Knicks repeatedly took benefit of his lack of mobility to create open photographs.
Embiid returned from a late-season appendectomy throughout Recreation 4 of Philadelphia’s first-round collection in opposition to Boston and helped the 76ers overcome a 3-1 deficit to win the collection.
It’s unclear whether or not the ache round Embiid’s hip is replated to the appendectomy. He winced and grabbed his stomach at one level in Recreation 1 after Knicks guard Mikal Bridges collided with him on a display screen within the first half.
Embiid later mentioned he felt the contact was pointless.
“Clearly primarily based on what’s been happening, I suppose I’ve bought to guard it extra,” Embiid mentioned. “I don’t know if it was soiled or not, so I suppose I’ve bought to do a greater job of defending, particularly that half.”
Tyrese Maxey bounced again from a passive efficiency in Recreation 1 with 26 factors, whereas Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. every had 19. Edgecombe completed with 17, however Philadelphia was simply 4 for 17 within the fourth quarter.
Embiid might need made a distinction, although the Sixers are used to enjoying with out him. It has been years for the reason that former MVP has actually been wholesome.
“I mentioned this earlier than, however getting back from that appendectomy so fast was not straightforward for him to do,” Nurse mentioned. “He’s labored extraordinarily exhausting to get again and he continues to need to play badly and I really feel actually unhealthy for him, as a result of he actually needs to be on the market and we would like him on the market.”
Maybe Embiid will get an opportunity this weekend, with Video games 3 and 4 in Philadelphia. Both manner, the 76ers imagine they’ll make one other comeback.
“We undoubtedly really feel like we will pull ourselves out of this one,” Maxey mentioned. “Form of go dwelling, get two.”
Printed on Might 07, 2026