Nothing like a shocking loss to bring about mass hysteria in the fanbase. The Philadelphia 76ers, who many thought were in line for a sweep, lost Game 4 in Washington on Monday. Several key storylines emerged from that game, but none more key than Joel Embiid‘s health status.
The Sixers’ MVP candidate went to the locker room in the first quarter after a hard fall. He landed on his butt and missed the entirety of the second quarter before being officially ruled out for the rest of the game. He is expected to receive an MRI on Tuesday.
While the initial concern was Embiid’s backside, he was listed out due to right knee soreness. Upon further review of the video, you can see his right knee buckle slightly as he lands.
The sequence that had Joel Embiid grabbing at his back: pic.twitter.com/BIXGpJUhkL
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 31, 2021
While a back injury would’ve been bad enough given Embiid’s recent history, knee soreness is never the preferred outcome. While we do not know the status of Embiid’s MRI yet — expect updates from us, maybe even on this very article — it’s safe to have some level of looming panic at the back of your mind.
The Sixers need Joel Embiid like a fish needs water. His injury status is all that matters from an otherwise inconsequential Game 4 loss.
The Sixers need Embiid for this playoff run to amount to anything more than a second-round exit to Atlanta. While Daryl Morey attempted to soothe the masses with the following YouTube clip, Sixer fans care more about hard evidence than informed optimism.
Embiid has had left knee trouble in the past, whereas this injury occurred to his right knee. That, if anything, is some small pre-MRI comfort. Ideally, this injury is day-to-day and the Sixers take care of business in Game 5, with or without Embiid. The Sixers probably should have won Game 4, if it weren’t for some boneheaded performances and equally boneheaded coaching.
The Sixers’ title aspirations lie on the massive shoulders of Joel Embiid. For our sake as fans, but more importantly for his sake as a player and person, let’s hope the MRI is mere precaution, and not a harbinger of bad news.