Joel Embiid

Philadelphia 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid could miss "several games" after being placed in the NBA's health and safety protocols, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. 

Embiid was scheduled to miss Monday night's matchup with the New York Knicks as "planned rest," per Charania. The Sixers face the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. 

Charania added that Embiid is expected to miss 10 days unless he can produce two negative COVID-19 test results within a 24-hour period.

Add it to the list of injuries, illnesses and protracted holdouts the Sixers have dealt with this season.

Three other Sixers (Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle and Isaiah Joe) are in the league's health and safety protocols, and Harris has been hit hard by COVID-19.

"He's doing OK, but not great, honestly. ... Yeah, it hit him for sure," Doc Rivers told reporters last week. "A lot of guys have had this and they are mad like, 'What the hell? I'm fine.' Tobias is not in that category right now, I can tell you that."

And then there is Ben Simmons, who reportedly requested a trade over the summer and has yet to play this season.

Through it all, the Sixers have gone 8-2 and sit atop the Eastern Conference standings. It hasn't been through the sheer force of Embiid either. The big man has been solid but less dominant than in the past, averaging 21.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three.

The 27-year-old remains the team's defensive fulcrum and is the best two-way center in the NBA. But his offensive numbers are down compared to last season's MVP runner-up showing (28.5 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.4 BPG, 51.3 percent shooting from the field, 37.7 percent from three).

Losing him will be tough for a Sixers team that is short-handed and faces a difficult stretch in the schedule with the Knicks, Bucks, Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers on the slate this week. Saturday's game against Indiana is the first in a six-game road trip.

With Embiid out, Andre Drummond will move to the starting lineup, while Paul Reed should see a major bump in playing time. Rookie Charles Bassey could also get some minutes.

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid had an MRI over the weekend on his sore right knee that revealed no major concerns, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.

Embiid had an MRI on his sore right knee over the weekend which revealed no concerns, according to sources. Sitting this game is for rest, since Sixers have packed schedule. He’s expected back on Wednesday. https://t.co/Kve1flM3xW

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) November 1, 2021

The 27-year-old has been dealing with knee soreness since colliding with New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas in the first game of the season. Shelburne reported that Embiid said he couldn't walk for two days after the game.

Despite that, Monday night's game against the Portland Trail Blazers will be his first absence of the season. Shelburne said the absence of Sixers guard Ben Simmons has driven Embiid to continue playing through his injury. Simmons is away from the team because he said he's "not mentally ready" to play for Philadelphia.

"He's playing because Ben Simmons is not playing, and they [the Sixers] need one of them on the court," Shelburne said. "He wants to show leadership at this moment because, as you said, you don't want to fall behind to where you can't come back."

.@ramonashelburne on Joel Embiid playing through injuries (via NBA Today).

"He told me after this game in New Orleans, he couldn't walk for two days." 😳

(via NBA Today) pic.twitter.com/yuq6fdbfDN

— ESPN (@espn) October 27, 2021

Embiid hasn't been the dominant force we're accustomed to seeing. Through six games, he is averaging 21.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. 

Andre Drummond, who was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, will assume Embiid's place in the starting lineup until he presumably returns on Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls. 

The Philadelphia 76ers bounced back from Tuesday's loss to the New York Knicks with a 110-102 win over the Detroit Pistons at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.

Philadelphia, which improved to 3-2, led by as many as 22 in the second half before a late run by Detroit made the game close.

Sixers star big man Joel Embiid, who was questionable because of knee soreness, had 30 points and 18 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

Saddiq Bey scored 19 points for the Pistons, who fell to 0-4. Rookie Cade Cunningham, who was selected No. 1 overall in this year's draft, has yet to make his debut for Detroit as he recovers from an ankle injury.

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Notable Player Stats

C Joel Embiid, PHI: 30 points, 18 rebounds

F Tobias Harris, PHI: 17 points, 6 rebounds

F Saddiq Bey, DET: 19 points, 6 rebounds

F Jerami Grant, DET: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals

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Sixers Overcome Slow Start, Late Lapse

The Sixers looked sluggish to open the game. Both teams struggled with their outside shots, but Philadelphia fell into Detroit's trap of slowing down the game and didn't get out in transition.

other than dribbling, shooting, and passing, Sixers offense looks crisp so far

— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) October 28, 2021

The Sixers and Pistons combined to make all but 12 of the 13 three-pointers they attempted in that first quarter of play.

(This tweet was brought to you by @TomMoorePhilly).

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) October 28, 2021

The lack of transition buckets caused Philadelphia to rely heavily on Embiid in the first half. The Sixers fell behind by as many as five before Embiid took over. He had 19 points and 12 rebounds, while no other player had scored in double figures or recorded five boards before halftime.

"I'm talking to myself!"

Joel Embiid was called for a tech after this dunk 😅 https://t.co/W40yg6nnPg

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 29, 2021

all hail the EMVPIID. pic.twitter.com/sLERxfLYkw

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 29, 2021

Philadelphia came out with more energy in the second half. Point guard Tyrese Maxey did a great job of jumping passing lanes, and the Sixers got out on the fast break.

flawless. @TyreseMaxey 🤝 @Tobias31 pic.twitter.com/HFdq3N7nqf

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 29, 2021

#Sixers 73, #Pistons 62, 2:44 3Q
PHI has stretched the lead with transition baskets and Tobias Harris, who has 9 of his 17 pts in 3Q.

— Rod Beard (@ajcRodBeard) October 29, 2021

The Sixers entered the season considered to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, but they let one of the worst teams in the league hang around.

A mental lapse by Philadelphia allowed Detroit to get back in the game in the fourth quarter. The Sixers bench struggled to find shots, and Embiid had to reenter the game after their 22-point lead almost disappeared. 

Philadelphia has had a lot of off-court turmoil with three-time All-Star Ben Simmons' absence from the team.

Thursday's win should be a confidence-booster, but the Sixers need to put a full game together to prove their status as contenders in the East.

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Pistons Show Fight, Lack Offensive Firepower

The Pistons kept the game close early and even led in the first half, controlling the tempo and making it an ugly game.

But as the second half wore on, Detroit just didn't have enough offense to keep up. It made just eight of its 25 field-goal attempts in the third quarter and shot only three free throws after getting to the line 12 times in the first half.

The Pistons put together a 19-3 run in the fourth quarter to cut their deficit to six. But it was largely because the Sixers had their bench players in the game and had taken their foot off the gas.

Make it 11 straight points for the @DetroitPistons after @iam_killian nails a triple! #Pistons pic.twitter.com/ZGOqyOy8mH

— FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (@FanDuelSN_DET) October 29, 2021

Jerami Grant was inefficient from the floor, shooting 4-of-14. Bey scored 14 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, but Detroit needed him to get going earlier.

The Pistons showed they have fight, but they need Cunningham to help ignite their offense. He is practicing with Detroit's G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise, and could make his Pistons debut Saturday. 

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What's Next?

The Sixers will look to keep the momentum going in the second game of a four-game homestand Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks. The Pistons will go for their first win Saturday at home against the Orlando Magic.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is dealing with knee problems early in the 2021-22 NBA season. 

Per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Embiid said he "couldn't walk for two days" after the Sixers' season-opening win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 20. 

.@ramonashelburne on Joel Embiid playing through injuries (via NBA Today).

"He told me after this game in New Orleans, he couldn't walk for two days." 😳

(via NBA Today) pic.twitter.com/yuq6fdbfDN

— ESPN (@espn) October 27, 2021

In the 76ers' game Tuesday night against the New York Knicks, Embiid scored only 14 points on 2-of-7 shooting and snagged six rebounds in 30 minutes. 

Embiid overcame injury issues early in his career to establish himself as one of the NBA's top players. He's earned four consecutive All-Star selections and finished second in MVP voting last season behind only the Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic.

Embiid has averaged 19.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists so far during the 2021-22 season.

The 27-year-old Cameroonian missed his first two NBA seasons because of foot injuries after the Sixers selected him with the third overall pick in the 2014 draft. He was then limited to 31 appearances in 2016-17 before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Philadelphia has remained conservative with the superstar's workload, giving him occasional rest games and not pushing him to play through minor ailments. That's helped him stay on the floor with four straight seasons of at least 51 games played.

Andre Drummond should receive the lion's share of the Sixers' playing time at center whenever Embiid is sidelined. Rookie Charles Bassey and second-year forward Paul Reed could also be in line for some additional minutes.

The 76ers' patience with Embiid has paid off in a major way given his individual production, but a championship run has been elusive. Having him healthy for the playoffs is the single most important factor if the Sixers are going to end a title drought that dates back to 1983.

Philadelphia is off Wednesday before hosting the Detroit Pistons on Thursday in the first game of a four-game homestand. 

It finally happened.

The New York Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers.

New York snapped its 15-game losing streak against its Eastern Conference rivals with a 112-99 win on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. Kemba Walker, Julius Randle and Evan Fournier led the way in a balanced effort for the victors, who improved to 3-1 on the season.

Tobias Harris played well in the losing effort for the 76ers, who dropped to 2-2.

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Notable Player Stats

• Julius Randle, F, NYK: 16 PTS, 11 REB, 7 AST
• Kemba Walker, G, NYK: 19 PTS, 5 AST, 3 REB, 2 STL, 5-of-11 3PT
• Evan Fournier, G, NYK: 18 PTS, 4 AST, 4-of-6 3PT
• Tobias Harris, F, PHI: 23 PTS, 9 REB, 9 AST
• Joel Embiid, C, PHI: 14 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 2-of-7 FG

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Knicks Use Offensive Explosion to Notch Notable Win

The Knicks made the playoffs last season for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign, but 2021-22 is all about taking the next step as true Eastern Conference contenders.

Part of that is battling perceived top teams such as the 76ers, and Thursday was an opportunity to do so in front of a raucous home crowd. And New York wasted little time seizing that opportunity while jumping out to a commanding 20-point halftime lead.

Perhaps the most encouraging part of the quick start was the fact the home team didn't just rely on Randle, who led the Knicks in scoring in each of the first three games. Instead, Walker found his stroke from deep, while RJ Barrett and Fournier connected from three-point range as well.

Kemba is heating up from downtown 🔥 pic.twitter.com/P0ZGAyg6Y5

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 27, 2021

HE'S ON FIRE pic.twitter.com/yKOvfTcLA4

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 27, 2021

D Rose and Julius Randle run the fast break to perfection ✅ pic.twitter.com/S4L1we6dn6

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 27, 2021

IMMANUEL QUICKLEY DROPPED HIM 😱 pic.twitter.com/uMRGlUe7Yb

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 27, 2021

Obi Toppin finishes with some finesse 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EWKMhxS1Dp

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 27, 2021

The bench was also key, as Derrick Rose, Obi Toppin, Alec Burks and Immanuel Quickley all provided a spark against an overmatched Philadelphia secondary unit.

The onslaught continued in the third quarter with Randle dishing out assists, Toppin powering his way through defenders, and Walker and Fournier maintaining their impressive shooting. Five Knicks scored in double figures in all, which is something that will need to happen if they are going to challenge the top teams in the league.

It also made the fourth something of a formality, which was apparent by the team's sluggish start to the quarter when it could have removed any doubt.

Still, New York isn't going to lose many games when it hits 16 three-pointers at a 43.2 percent clip and receives scoring from across the roster. Walker's showing was particularly noteworthy because the four-time All-Star can be a secondary leader alongside Randle.

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Slow Start Costs 76ers on Road

The early portion of the 76ers season has been all about which player will step up on a given night and help fill the void left by Ben Simmons.

Joel Embiid was the leading scorer in the first game, Harris was in the second game and Seth Curry was in the third. Curry was particularly impressive while lighting up the Oklahoma City Thunder for 28 points on seven made three-pointers, continuing his red-hot start to the season.

Yet all of that balanced scoring and offensive firepower was nowhere to be found out of the gates in New York.

Tyrese Maxey finishes strong through contact 💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/QpicqQvFJV

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 26, 2021

Korkmaz puts it in reverse for the @sixers 😤 pic.twitter.com/FXr8mbjrBQ

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 27, 2021

the big man who never sleeps. 💪 pic.twitter.com/tvMIfVmUk0

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 27, 2021

Philadelphia trailed by 20 at halftime and shot an abysmal 2-of-15 from three-point range in the opening two quarters. Embiid also struggled with the Knicks' physical frontcourt and shot 0-of-5 from the field, although he shot 10 first-half free throws as a result of that defensive approach.

There weren't many bright spots for the visitors, but Danny Green provided one with his outside shooting in the third quarter. Harris also continued his solid play and contributed on the glass and as a facilitator in addition to his scoring.

If there was a silver lining for the 76ers, it was the fact that the game was relatively even outside of a disastrous second quarter. Cleaning that up is easier said than done, but most games also likely won't see them outscored 39-16 for an entire quarter.

That was too much to overcome, especially with Embiid struggling to make an offensive impact outside of the free-throw line.            

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What's Next?

Both teams play Thursday when the 76ers host the Detroit Pistons and the Knicks travel to face the undefeated Chicago Bulls.

The NFL must have been on Doc Rivers' mind this Sunday.

"Tom Brady-ish, that's what Joel Embiid was tonight" the Philadelphia 76ers head coach told reporters after the center helped lead his team to a 115-103 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Embiid finished with 22 points, nine rebounds, six assists, three blocks, one steal and zero turnovers in the win.

The assist-to-turnover total is what immediately stands out, especially since Embiid is a big man who is often tasked with dominating the paint and creating mismatches with his ability to shoot from outside if needed.

Philadelphia ran the offense through him a number of times, and he found open shooters whenever the Thunder collapsed on him.

His facilitating is all the more important for the Eastern Conference contender since Ben Simmons is not playing. Simmons would often serve as the primary facilitator for the 76ers, but it is something of a group effort at this point even with Tyrese Maxey stepping in at point guard.

Nobody benefited more from the additional attention Embiid draws than Seth Curry.

The sharpshooter drilled seven three-pointers on his way to a team-best 28 points, while Danny Green added 11 points behind 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. The combined efforts helped the 76ers bounce back from Friday's loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

"Brady-ish" was quite the compliment, especially on the day the Tampa Bay Buccaneers threw his 600th career touchdown in a commanding 38-3 win over the Chicago Bears. The all-time great threw four touchdowns to zero interceptions and helped his team improve to 6-1.

So it was zero turnovers for Brady and Embiid.             

The Philadelphia 76ers' organizational collapse off the court may be following them on it.

The Sixers failed to make a field goal in the final 5:33, falling apart down the stretch to hand the Brooklyn Nets a 114-109 victory at the Wells Fargo Center in the first regular-season clash of Eastern Conference contenders.

Kevin Durant finished with 29 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists for his 13th career triple-double, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 points off the bench. But the real story was a complete failure of the Sixers to finish the job.

Philly did not trail the entire game until Aldridge hit a free throw with 48.2 seconds remaining. The Nets, who once trailed by as many as 14 points, closed on a 16-1 run.

The Sixers' home opener was overshadowed by the continued controversy surrounding Ben Simmons, who met with several members of the organization Friday. Joel Embiid addressed the Wells Fargo crowd, asking for fan support for Simmons, who he called "our brother." 

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Simmons has no timetable for his season debut because he does not feel "mentally ready" to play. Simmons demanded a trade and held out of the first two weeks of training camp before reporting to the team, though he was suspended for the season opener for conduct detrimental to the team after being kicked out of practice.

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Notable Stats

Nets

F Kevin Durant: 29 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
G James Harden: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals
F LaMarcus Aldridge: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks

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Sixers

C Joel Embiid: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks
F Tobias Harris: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
G Seth Curry: 23 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks

Nets Have a Nic Claxton Issue

It's been only two games, but the third-year big man has not looked capable of handling himself in a heavy-minute role. Claxton looked lost on both ends of the floor Friday night, posting a game-worst minus-19 in 17 minutes of work.

Embiid seemed to toy with him in the post at points, and the Sixers were able to abuse him in pick-and-roll attacks. Claxton was also just 1-of-4 from the field and a liability on the offensive end. 

It was telling and also concerning that head coach Steve Nash went with LaMarcus Aldridge down the stretch. Aldridge was surprisingly sensational in his reserve role, particularly in the fourth quarter, but the Nets can't count on a 36-year-old coming off a health scare (heart). It's worth noting that Aldridge was showing his age last season in San Antonio and had only one point in the Nets' season opener.

Brooklyn was counting on significant development from Claxton to give the team some level of interior presence. It doesn't look to be there.

Beyond Kyrie Irving's continued absence, the Nets' lack of frontcourt depth is an issue to watch the remainder of the season.

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Just Trade Him Already

The Sixers' relationship with Simmons has run the gamut of emotions in the last few days alone. Embiid went from telling reporters "I don't care about that man" earlier this week to publicly calling him a "brother" in front of the crowd tonight.

Tobias Harris also called Simmons a "brother" in a social media post. At least among members of the team, there's a real attempt at trying to repair the situation to the point Simmons can get back on the floor.

It's just difficult to see a scenario where this actually works.

The previous team leadership coddled Simmons to the point he seemingly stopped progressing as a player. Current leadership shopped him in a trade, and then he was publicly criticized by head coach Doc Rivers following a poor playoff performance and with his confidence low.

While Embiid has said he loves playing with Simmons, rumors about their lack of chemistry on and off the court persist.

If Simmons returns, it's hard to believe it'll be in the best interest of everyone in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid asked the Wells Fargo Center crowd to continue supporting teammate Ben Simmons in light of recent events, including his trade request, holdout and one-game suspension.

“He’s still our brother.”

Joel Embiid still showing love for Ben Simmons before the Sixers’ home opener. pic.twitter.com/iwbnITiKiN

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) October 23, 2021

Embiid made the request while he was thanking fans for their support prior to the 76ers' home opener against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

The 25-year-old Simmons, a three-time All-Star, asked the 76ers to trade him this offseason. He did not attend the first few weeks of training camp but reported to the team Oct. 11. On Sunday, he participated in his first practice for the 2021-22 campaign.

However, he was suspended for the team's 117-97 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday after refusing to take part in a defensive drill during a practice Tuesday, per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.

Simmons has since spoken with head coach Doc Rivers and the rest of the team and said that he wants to play but is not mentally ready to do so, per Charania.

Sources say Joel Embiid today asked 76ers co-star Ben Simmons the question: Why do you want a trade? Simmons responded that he isn’t feeling mentally himself and needs time to get right. Details: pic.twitter.com/oevLl2hXB2

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 22, 2021

Simmons has averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game in four seasons with Philadelphia. The Sixers have made the playoffs in each season with him on the court, though they have not advanced past the Eastern Conference Semifinals.