The Philadelphia 76ers’ issues just won’t seem to end.
The team ruled center Joel Embiid out of Friday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets and announced later in the evening that Embiid has swelling in his left knee and will miss Sunday’s game against the LA Clippers too. The Sixers said Embiid is receiving treatment on his knee and further updates on his status will be given next week.
It’s the latest hurdle in what’s been a trying week for the Sixers, a team that started the season with NBA championship aspirations. Philadelphia improved to 3-12 with Friday’s 113-98 win over the Nets.
Monday’s loss against the Miami Heat prompted a closed-door team meeting in which Tyrese Maxey called out Embiid for setting a bad example for teammates, multiple league sources told The Athletic. Maxey later said Tuesday that he wanted to “speak up,” and after Wednesday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Embiid addressed the drama and criticism surrounding him and the Sixers while adding that “whoever leaked that is a real piece of s—,” regarding the meeting.
In that loss to Memphis, nine-time All-Star Paul George suffered a bone bruise in the same knee that he hyperextended in the preseason. He missed Friday’s game and will also miss Sunday’s contest against the Clippers.
Despite the struggles, multiple league sources told The Athletic earlier this week that there are no internal discussions regarding coach Nick Nurse or president of basketball operations Daryl Morey’s job status.
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