Sixers Rule Out Joel Embiid vs. Knicks Due to Illness, Knee Management Concerns
The Philadelphia 76ers are hitting the road Friday night to face the New York Knicks, but they’ll be doing it without their franchise centerpiece. Joel Embiid has officially been ruled out of the matchup, sidelined due to illness and right knee injury management.
The reigning MVP was initially listed as questionable because of the illness, but Friday’s injury report confirmed he’ll sit out due to both the illness and the knee issue. And while the knee designation raised some eyebrows-especially since recent injury reports have mostly focused on his left knee-head coach Nick Nurse made it clear this wasn’t a case of one issue outweighing the other.
“He’s not playing because of both,” Nurse said pregame.
That’s the kind of clarity the Sixers needed to provide, even if it doesn’t entirely settle the nerves in Philadelphia. What’s notable here is that this is the first time in a while Embiid has been listed with a right knee concern. Up to this point, the left knee has been the primary focus when it comes to his ongoing injury management.
Still, Nurse downplayed the development, saying there’s no new injury or incident behind the designation.
“I don’t think there’s anything new,” he explained. “And I don’t think anything happened. It’s all just part of trying to manage the stuff going forward.”
That’s a fair approach when dealing with a player of Embiid’s caliber and workload. The Sixers are playing the long game here, as they should. Embiid’s health is the linchpin of their championship aspirations, and any signs of wear-on either knee-are going to draw attention.
Philadelphia will be back on the court less than 24 hours later, hosting the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. Whether Embiid suits up for that one remains to be seen, but it’s clear the team is being cautious, especially during this stretch of the season when managing minutes and injuries can make all the difference come spring.
For now, the Sixers will need to find a way to compete without their anchor in the paint. That means more pressure on Tyrese Maxey to carry the offensive load, and more responsibility for the frontcourt rotation to hold the line defensively. It’s never easy replacing a player like Embiid, but if the Sixers want to stay near the top of the East, they’ll need to find ways to win even when their MVP isn’t on the floor.