Joel Embiid gave Sixers fans a serious scare Tuesday night after a knee-to-knee collision with Terrance Mann early in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets. It was a moment that stopped everyone in their tracks - not just because of the impact, but because of who was involved. When your franchise cornerstone grabs his knee and limps off the floor, the air gets sucked out of the building.
The play happened just seconds into the third quarter. Embiid was working to establish position in the paint when he and Mann accidentally bumped knees.
Embiid immediately went down, clutching his right knee in clear discomfort. He eventually made his way to the locker room under his own power but with a noticeable limp.
Fortunately for Philadelphia, the reigning MVP returned to the bench not long after - ice wrapped around his knee - and eventually checked back into the game. That alone was a welcome sight for a Sixers team that knows just how thin the margin is when it comes to Embiid’s health and their postseason aspirations.
Still, even with Embiid back on the floor, the Sixers couldn’t claw their way out of a hole in what ended up being a 114-106 loss to Brooklyn.
The game opened evenly, with both teams knotted at 27 after the first quarter. But the Nets took control in the middle frames, outscoring Philadelphia by 12 combined points in the second and third quarters. That stretch proved to be the difference, as the Sixers’ fourth-quarter push wasn’t enough to close the gap.
Embiid led the way statistically, despite the scare, finishing with 27 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. He was efficient, going 8-of-13 from the field, hitting his lone three-point attempt, and knocking down 10-of-12 from the free-throw line.
Paul George added 19 points and four steals, continuing to be a steady two-way presence. Tyrese Maxey chipped in 13 points and matched George with four steals of his own, though he struggled to find his rhythm offensively for stretches. Off the bench, Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon each gave the Sixers a boost with 12 points apiece, while rookie Jared McCain added 10 points and nearly secured a double-double with nine rebounds.
With the loss, Philadelphia dropped to 16-12 on the season, still holding the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. They remain just a half-game ahead of both the Magic and Cavaliers, and trail the Raptors by half a game and the Celtics by a game and a half. The standings are tight, and every game carries weight - especially with teams jockeying for playoff positioning heading into the new year.
Next up, the Sixers hit the road to face the Chicago Bulls on December 26. All eyes will be on Embiid’s knee, but for now, the team can breathe a little easier knowing their star big man made it back on the floor.
The challenge now? Turning that silver lining into a bounce-back win.