What happened to Joel Embiid? Reason why Sixers star is not playing today
The NBA playoffs’ first-round series has seen all kinds of action. There are those that are extremely competitive and those that are completely one-sided. The series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets has been one of the one-sided contests. The 76ers, led by Joel Embiid and James Harden, are on the verge of sweeping the Nets. Philly has managed to win all three games played so far and has been a dominating force. However, ahead of Game 4, 76ers star Joel Embiid has been reported to sit out of the game.
The reason behind Embiid missing out on Game 4 is listed as a right knee sprain. The MVP contender struggled in Game 3 as he frequently limped during his time on the court. However, the star forward claimed he was fine after the game. The details of Embiid’s niggle remain uncertain. Although, there are speculations that the injury was triggered by his altercation with the Nets Center Nic Claxton.
Although Embiid is a key player for Philadelphia, his absence shouldn’t be a huge deal. The 76ers have previously played well in his absence and have won games too. Moreover, if the 76ers were to lose Game 4, they would have quite a healthy series lead to win. Therefore, Embiid missing out is not all bad news for the team. With James Harden leading the way in great form, the Philadelphia 76ers will look forward to sweeping the Brooklyn Nets.
What does the road ahead look like for Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers?
As the 76ers are looking strong to go into the Western Conference Semi-Finals, they must prepare for who they take on next. According to the NBA Playoffs bracket, their most likely opponent would be the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are a team that has troubled Embiid and Co. in the past. The 2021-22 season runners-ups are 3-1 against Philadelphia in the four games that both teams played against each other this season.
The Celtics would definitely not be an easy opponent to beat. With Jayson Tatum putting up stellar numbers every night, the 76ers have to be on top of their game to upset Boston. After their NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors last year, the Celtics look determined to win an NBA championship and redeem themselves this year. On the other hand, Joel Embiid would have nothing less on his mind.
Needless to say that the MVP contender’s fitness would be of key importance to his team. If Philadelphia wins Game 4, they are expected to get at least a week before the conference semi-finals. Probably enough time for Embiid to recover and play his best against the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are currently leading 2-1 in their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks and are favorites to win. If they come through, a 76ers-Celtics series would be an interesting battle, to say the least.
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