Joel Embiid ‘managing swelling’ in left knee, out at least 1 more game

On November 23, 2024By Littum

Joel Embiid has sat out 11 of Philadelphia’s 15 games this season.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is dealing with swelling in his left knee and will miss a second straight game Sunday, the team said.

The Sixers released a statement on the condition of the 2023 NBA MVP at halftime of Friday’s NBA Cup game against the Brooklyn Nets, saying the decision to sideline Embiid was made with the team’s medical staff. Embiid was ruled out ahead of Friday’s game against the Nets due to what the team described as maintenance of a left knee injury. The Sixers host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

“Joel Embiid is dealing with swelling in his left knee,” the team’s statement said. “In consultation with the team’s medical staff, Embiid missed tonight’s game and will also miss Sunday’s game. He is receiving treatments and further updates on his status will be provided early next week.”

Embiid was initially listed as questionable on injury reports entering the game and declared a playing-time decision during coach Nick Nurse’s pregame media session. But Embiid never participated in warmups and was ruled out 30 minutes before tip-off.

“It’s kind of something that we knew we were going to have to deal with going into the season,” Nurse after the team’s 113-98 win over the Nets. “They’re doing what they can do to get that swelling down, but it just didn’t feel good enough to go.

“We knew pretty well not too long after (the pregame press conference) that he wasn’t going to be able to go tonight, and they looked at it again during the game or halftime or whatever and decided that they should treat it this way. weekend and go from there.”

Embiid was not in the locker room when reporters entered after the game Friday night.

Embiid played Wednesday night in Memphis, scoring a season-high 35 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 117-111 loss that dropped the Sixers to 2-12. At times against the Grizzlies, Embiid looked limp, hobbled with a knee injury, but stayed in the game as Philadelphia battled back into the game in the fourth quarter.

Embiid joined Paul George on the sidelines Friday night. George suffered a left knee bruise in Wednesday’s game and will be out until next week at the earliest. The third part of the Sixers’ expected “Big Three” – guard Tyrese Maxey – returned against Memphis after missing two weeks with a hamstring injury. Embiid, Maxey and George have only played together in one game this season.

Embiid missed Philadelphia’s first 10 games due to knee issues and a three-game suspension and has been sidelined for 11 of 15 games this season.

The 30-year-old Embiid was limited to 39 games last season, mostly due to knee surgery after tearing the meniscus in his left knee on Jan. 30 against Golden State.

Embiid, who helped the United States win gold at the Paris Olympics, signed a $193 million contract ahead of training camp and skipped the entire preseason.