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PHILADELPHIA (AP)— The 76ers were once again without Joel Embiid, as his injured left knee continues to cast uncertainty over the All-Star center’s ability to return to the court.
The 7-foot Embiid underwent examinations on Monday, with further assessments planned for the following day. He did not participate in Philadelphia’s 142-110 defeat against Chicago, marking the 38th game he has missed this season amid the struggling Sixers. A range of possibilities, including rest, surgery, or playing through discomfort, will be considered based on the outcomes of the tests and imaging.
In Philadelphia, a pressing question remains: Is this the last time the seven-time All-Star center will hit the court this season?
“Not at all,” coach Nick Nurse expressed on Monday. “We’re working on finding solutions through testing and evaluating, then we’ll see where we stand.”
Embiid has suited up for merely 19 out of the 57 games for the 76ers, who have fallen to a dismal 20-37 record after suffering an embarrassing 142-110 loss— at one point trailing by up to 50 points — to the Chicago Bulls, who have only 23 victories. The team’s chances of securing a spot in the SoFi Play-In Tournament appear to be diminishing. Embiid is averaging 23.8 points this season, a stark drop from his typical output of over 30 points per game in the past three years when he clinched two scoring titles. He managed just 29 points total in his last two appearances.
“I don’t think anyone anticipated it unfolding like this,” Nurse remarked. “It’s disappointing in many ways. He wants to play, we want him on the court, because our team functions best when he’s active. Unfortunately, things haven’t developed this way… yet.”
In Saturday’s 105-102 loss to Brooklyn, Nurse kept Embiid on the bench for the entire fourth quarter. He recorded only 14 points in 31 minutes, failed to sink any of his six three-point attempts, and watched as the 76ers attempted a comeback from a 17-point deficit, only to lose on a last-second shot by Nic Claxton.
Since earning the Kia MVP title in the 2022-23 season, Embiid has played just 58 games in the regular season and seven in the Play-In Tournament/playoffs.
Last season, he was limited to 39 games due to a torn meniscus in his left knee, which required surgery, as disclosed by the 76ers in February. Embiid returned in early April, participated in the 76ers’ playoff campaign, and later secured a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team over the summer.
Earlier this month, Embiid admitted that he hadn’t fully healed following last year’s surgery.
He isn’t the only All-Star on the 76ers struggling with injuries and inconsistent performance.
Paul George has not exhibited the scoring prowess associated with his reputation during the first year of a lucrative four-year, $212 million contract. After dealing with injuries and shooting difficulties, the nine-time All-Star has failed to establish the expected rhythm, with his scoring dropping below 17 points per game since January 24, during which he recorded three games with single-digit scores.
George has shared some advice with Embiid about managing the challenges of playing through injuries.
“Pain relief aids my performance,” George mentioned on Saturday. “That’s what enables me to cope. I understand, especially considering his size and style of play, that it takes a toll.”
This week, George revealed he has relied on pain-killing injections to cope with various injuries, particularly in his damaged left pinky.
Amid any injury-related excuses, time is ticking for the 76ers to mount a genuine postseason bid.
“We continue to have the same discussions. Here we are, nearing the 60-game mark,” George observed. “This is unacceptable. The number of uncontested layups we allow is just not right. It comes down to our commitment. Are we willing to give everything on the floor and play with maximum effort to see the results? I’m on board with that. But we must unite and give it our all.”
The 76ers have a record of only 7-8 this season when Embiid, George, and 2024 All-Star Tyrese Maxey are all in the starting lineup, and they’ve now lost eight consecutive games, this latest one to the Bulls. Additionally, their first-round pick is top-six protected; if it doesn’t fall within that range, it will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder, potentially influencing the decision to shut down both Embiid and George and mitigate their losses this season.
“It’s been a difficult situation,” Nurse admitted. “The sheer number of players cycling in and out, along with Embiid not being at his best, has created challenges. We’ll continue to strategize from game to game as we adapt to the circumstances.”
