DENVER – Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid missed a 111-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets and MVP challenger Nikola Jokic on Saturday afternoon with left knee soreness.
After going through his typical pregame workout before the game, the team’s medical personnel did not like how the reigning NBA MVP was moving, and decided to shut him down for the game. Embiid was in the locker room before Saturday’s game wearing a large wrap on his knee.
When 76ers coach Nick Nurse was asked when he knew Embiid would not play, he said, “Not until about 20-25.” “He went out to do his routine warmups and the medical care team didn’t like what they saw and … they decided it would be safer for him not to play today.”
Embiid missed three games earlier this month with the same problem and appeared to tweak his knee again during Thursday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers, though it’s unclear how much time he’ll miss due to the injury this time.
Nurse said Embiid, Tyrese Maxey (ankle) and Tobias Harris (illness) will be reevaluated Sunday before Monday’s game in Portland against the Trail Blazers.
Philadelphia will travel to play Golden State on Tuesday night, before finishing their five-game road trip at Utah on Thursday night.
“Joel was obviously feeling pretty good after the San Antonio game,” Nurse said. “We went to Indiana. He wasn’t looking good in Indiana as far as his actions. I was a little worried there.
“Again, it was just, I don’t think it’s a huge deal, but they always monitor the swelling or whatever is going on and try to get it under control and get him ready as quickly as possible. We do. “
Embiid’s absence Saturday was compounded by the fact that his name was not included on the injury report before the game, despite, as Nurse said, his movements looking limited in Thursday’s loss to the Pacers.
The late investigation after Embiid was not listed on the injury report could lead to the NBA investigating the circumstances of his not playing, and why he was not initially on the injury report. For example, last season, the Miami Heat were fined $25,000 when Jimmy Butler suffered a back scratch that was not included in the injury report, with the league stating that the fine was “due to injury reporting.” for failing to follow governing league policies.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone said he expects an investigation.
“I don’t know how you go from being active and available to being out there,” Malone said. “I’m sure the league will do its due diligence, as it has been frowned upon. We’ve had situations this year where we’ve talked to the league, and if we have a player who opts out of the active , so it’s going to happen. I’m sure it will happen.
“Joel hurt his knee in the Indiana game. It’s real. We watched the game. He hurt his knee in the Indiana game, so I’m sure he got hurt, but it’s really tough when a player and “For a team like ours to be preparing for that, and then all of a sudden, at the last minute, he’s out. But we’ve got to do a better job of handling those situations.”
Regardless, it has now been four consecutive seasons that Embiid has not played here at Ball Arena, Embiid and Jokic begin their annual battle for the league’s top individual honors in the 2020-21 season.
Embiid missed the March 2021 game with a meniscus injury, missed the November 2021 game with COVID-19 and then missed March 2023 with a calf issue.
Embiid’s string of missed games in Denver has been a frequent storyline over the past few seasons, including when he missed the meeting between these two teams at the end of the 2022-23 regular season when it was decided who would win MVP. Should, the debate on this was at its peak. Ultimately, it was Embiid who got his first win by defeating Jokic, who was going for his third consecutive win.
Meanwhile, fans in Denver chanted loudly “Where’s Embiid?” The chant broke out midway through the first quarter after Denver jumped out to an early lead.
After coming off the bench in the fourth quarter, he received another round of chanting at the end of the game. After acknowledging the crowd, he once again bombarded him with sarcasm.
“I think it’s always disappointing, and I think it’s always disappointing for any fan who wants to see star players play,” Nurse said, when asked what fans would like to see in their top 10 games. How to feel about watching the 76ers play with three players sidelined.
“Listen, he really wanted to play and the medical team did not deem him fit to play today. And that’s too bad for those fans. That’s too bad.”
Missing Saturday’s game brings Embiid to 11 games missed this season – putting him one step closer to not being eligible for this season’s MVP award. Under new player participation rules implemented this season, if players play fewer than 65 games, they are ineligible for several season-ending honors, including MVP and All-NBA.
Embiid now only has to miss six of Philadelphia’s final 38 games to be able to win a second consecutive MVP award.
However, on the court, the starless 76ers almost pulled off a shocking upset, leading after three quarters and tied in the middle of the fourth quarter, before Denver finally pulled away from Jokic with 26 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists.
“I think it was a disappointment when we got the tip that Joel Embiid wasn’t going to play tonight,” Malone said. “I think there was a collective exhale and when you do that in this business, you can make a game as interesting as it is today. So first of all, give them credit… Those guys excelled, and we’re lucky That we came out here today with a win, let’s be honest.”
