76ers’ Coach Brett Brown confirmed Thursday that center Joel Embiid will sit out a week to nurse his shoulder injury that occurred in a game against Cleveland on Wednesday. X-rays however, came back negative.
“The fact that there is no structural damage we all hear loudly,” Brown told ESPN. “Maybe it’s a simple as that in some ways. Of course, it’s as much from the personal standpoint as it is a selfish coach, he’s looking forward to this run home, this final third, this responsibility, no Ben [Simmons] for how long we’ll all figure out in time. To learn that from him and his perspective, from the team perspective that is exciting news. ”
Embiid sat out Thursday’s 115-106 home win against the Knicks and now the team is geared up for a California road trip as they take on the Clippers on Sunday, Lakers on Tuesday and head to Sacramento Thursday. “It’s a painfully obvious bind,” Brown said before Thursday’s game. “We’re missing two All-Stars. You yank that from the team and it’s painful.”
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Embid was on a tear after the All-Star break dominating the paint in two games were he scored 39 and 49 points respectively. Now, his reign of dominance will be cut short as the Sixers await the return of two all-stars while facing a difficult three-game stretch. Ben Simmons has now missed the last three with a nerve impingement in his lower back that he sustained in practice and will be out at least two weeks.
The Sixers will defer to former all-star and third option Tobias Harris who is contributing nicely with averages of 19.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 47.4% from the field. Al Horford will look to step up in Embiid’s absence and build on Thursday’s performance which included 15 points, 7 rebounds and nine assists. Horford also shot 4-4 from three point range.
