Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid sprained his left shoulder in Wednesday night’s 108-94 road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, adding another worry for the Sixers, who are already without guard Ben Simmons.
During a late foul in the first quarter, Embiid clashed with Cavaliers center Ante Zizic. The 7-foot player gripped his shoulder in clear discomfort, yet remained in the game, missing both of his free throws.
Embiid was pulled out by the Sixers at the next pause in play, heading to the locker room as he rubbed his shoulder. He made a brief comeback to the bench in the second quarter but returned to receive further evaluation and treatment. When halftime arrived, Embiid came back to join his teammates on the bench, his injured shoulder wrapped.
Embiid will undergo an MRI exam Thursday to determine the extent of his left shoulder injury, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Keith Pompey. Embiid will miss the Sixers’ game tonight against the New York Knicks (7 ET, League Pass) because of the injury.
Joel Embiid, as anticipated, will sit out tonight’s game against the Knicks due to a shoulder issue. Similarly, it was expected that Norvel Pelle will return from an upper respiratory infection.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) February 27, 2020
Joel Embiid will not be playing against the Knicks tonight due to a left shoulder sprain that is still being evaluated, according to a source.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 27, 2020
Joel Embiid stated that he is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) February 27, 2020
Following the game, Embiid was visibly in pain with his left arm in a sling. He chose not to speak with reporters and allowed an equipment manager to carry his backpack out of the locker room. The quiet ambiance in the locker room reflected the team’s overall mood.
The Sixers currently hold the fifth position in the conference. Regarding the duration of Embiid’s absence, who recently scored a career-high 49 points against Atlanta on Monday, Coach Brett Brown admitted he wasn’t sure.
“I’m genuinely uncertain,” stated Brown. “It’s not just coach rhetoric, but a part of the NBA environment. This is the reason you strive to gather talent and depth.”
Al Horford stated that his team struggled to adapt in the absence of Embiid, who typically contributes an average of 23.8 points and 12 rebounds.
“Clearly, our gameplay revolves around him. With him being out, we were uncertain about our next move,” Horford, who netted 10 points, said. “We were somewhat at a loss about how to proceed. We must learn how to play in his absence.”
Embiid set a new personal record on Monday night by scoring 49 points against Atlanta. His average is 23.8 points and 12 rebounds.
The Sixers are gearing up to play for an unspecified period without Simmons due to a nerve impingement in his lower back, marking his second consecutive missed game. The team has not yet offered a timeline for Simmons’ return, further complicated by his injury.
On Thursday, following their games against the Cavs and the New York Knicks, Philadelphia will commence a four-game road trip in Los Angeles on Sunday. The Sixers have had a difficult season playing away from home, with a record of 27-2.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
