The Sixers received’t contemplate shutting down Joel Embiid after his second harm scare in eight days, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. The reigning MVP, who missed greater than two months following meniscus surgical procedure on his left knee in late January, collapsed to the court docket with ache within the knee after a spectacular play late within the first half on Saturday. He was ultimately capable of slowly stroll to the locker room and was cleared to return after intermission.
“I knew after I went in at halftime that they have been checking him out,” coach Nick Nurse mentioned. “And that he was up and shifting. And so they did say we’re seeing. They didn’t rule him out but. They simply took him all the way in which to the top there to get him dominated again in.”
Embiid, who didn’t converse with reporters after the sport, was injured with 2:37 left within the second quarter when he ducked beneath Mitchell Robinson, threw the ball off the backboard and completed the play with a spotlight dunk (video hyperlink). He landed on his left leg earlier than collapsing in ache. It was much like a play towards Orlando final week when he fell to the court docket after a drive to the basket late within the first half, however returned after being checked out by group docs.
“It was an excellent play. It was an incredible play,” Kelly Oubre informed reporters, together with Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. “Oh, man, it’s scary. Our our bodies are what we use as our automobiles out right here. It’s powerful, and he’s 7-foot, 300 kilos. It’s powerful, man. I couldn’t even think about being seven toes and with the ability to transfer like a guard and do the issues that I can do however being that huge. It’s powerful, however he’s a warrior.”
Embiid’s well being is clearly going to play an enormous function in deciding the collection with the Knicks, as he posted 29 factors, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals in Saturday’s Sport 1 loss. The Sixers have been plus-14 in his 37 minutes on the court docket, however minus-21 within the different 11 minutes. Nevertheless, Bontemps notes that he was a lot much less efficient after the harm, taking pictures simply 2-of-11 from the sphere within the second half.
There’s no phrase but on Embiid’s availability for Sport 2, which is able to happen Monday evening in New York, however there have been no plans Saturday evening for him to endure extra medical imaging on the knee, sources inform Vorkunov. He provides that Embiid was capable of go away the world with out a limp.
Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer cautions that the Sixers must be sensible about how they use Embiid going ahead as a result of the pressure he’s placing on his knee ligaments might end in a long-term harm. However Embiid has expressed a need to maintain enjoying, and it seems Nurse and group officers will honor that.
““I don’t suppose so,” Nurse responded when requested about the potential of sidelining Embiid. “He’s actually a warrior and he’s battling. I feel he completely needs to play. Let’s see how he seems right here tonight.”
