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. Despite clearly being in pain and clutching his shoulder, the 7-foot tall player remained in the game but failed to score both free throws.
Embiid was taken out of the game by the Sixers during the subsequent break in play, and he walked to the locker room, massaging his shoulder. He made a brief reappearance on the bench in the second quarter, but returned for further assessment and medical attention. By halftime, Embiid was back on the bench with his teammates, his injured shoulder bandaged.
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.
As anticipated, Joel Embiid will be absent from tonight’s game against the Knicks due to a shoulder issue. Similarly expected, Norvel Pelle will make a return following an upper respiratory infection.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) February 27, 2020
Joel Embiid won’t be playing in tonight’s game against the Knicks due to an ongoing evaluation for a left shoulder sprain, 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’s left arm was in a sling and he was visibly in pain. He chose not to speak with reporters and asked an equipment manager to carry his backpack out of the locker room. The team’s mood was clearly reflected in the silent ambiance of the locker room.
The Sixers currently hold the fifth position in the conference. Regarding the duration of Embiid’s side-lining, who recently scored a career-best 49 points against Atlanta on Monday, Coach Brett Brown stated that he is unsure.
“Frankly, I’m uncertain,” said Brown. “It’s not just typical coach talk, this is just how the NBA operates. That’s the reason you aim to gather talent and depth.”
Al Horford stated that his team struggled to adapt without Embiid, who typically scores an average of 23.8 points and secures 12 rebounds.
“Clearly, our game strategy revolved around him. Once he was out, we were unsure of our next move,” Horford, who scored 10 points, admitted. “We were uncertain about how to proceed. We need to learn how to play without him.”
Embiid set a new career record on Monday night, scoring 49 points against Atlanta. He is currently averaging 23.8 points and 12 rebounds.
As the Sixers gear up to play for an unknown duration without Simmons, he misses his second consecutive game due to a nerve impingement in his lower back. His injury occurs at this time and the team has not yet provided a schedule for Simmons’ return.
After taking on the Cavs and the New York Knicks on Thursday, Philadelphia will start a four-game road trip in Los Angeles on Sunday. This season, the Sixers have had a difficult time playing away from home with a 27-2 record.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
