Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will be sidelined for at least the upcoming weekend due to an injured lateral meniscus in his left knee. The news comes after Embiid's MRI revealed the extent of the injury suffered during Tuesday night's game against the Golden State Warriors.
Embiid was already slated to miss Thursday night's game against the Utah Jazz, and now he will also be absent for the team's matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. The 76ers are currently working on finalizing a treatment plan for their star player.
The injury occurred when Golden State's Jonathan Kuminga fell on Embiid's left leg during the game. This setback comes after Embiid had just returned to action following a left knee issue, which had caused him to miss games against the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers.
The timing of this injury is unfortunate for Embiid, who has already missed a significant portion of this season. He has now been sidelined for a total of 12 games, potentially jeopardizing his chances of being eligible for a second consecutive MVP award. According to the new collective bargaining agreement, players need to participate in at least 65 regular-season games to be eligible for awards such as MVP or a spot on the All-NBA teams.
When healthy, Embiid has been performing at an exceptional level, displaying MVP-caliber play. He currently leads the NBA in scoring with an average of 35.3 points per game and contributes 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. Embiid's phenomenal performance includes a franchise-record 70-point game along with 18 rebounds in a victory over the San Antonio Spurs on January 22.
Unfortunately, Embiid's absence has taken a toll on the 76ers as they continue a five-game road trip. The team has yet to secure a victory, going 0-4 so far.
The Philadelphia 76ers will undoubtedly work diligently to support Joel Embiid through his injury and ensure his full recovery. In the meantime, the team will have to regroup and find ways to compete without their star center.
