The Philadelphia 76ers entered this season with postseason hopes, having been first-round exits in 2024. They got stronger over the offseason on paper, re-signing All-Star Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr., as well as adding first-round pick Jared McCain through the draft – all, of course, built around 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid.

Maxey is having a stellar season, sitting fifth in the NBA with 27.4 points per game. But that’s a position he’s been forced to step into, as it begins to look increasingly like neither McCain nor Embiid will play more than 25 games for the Sixers this season.

McCain was a bright spot in Philadelphia’s opening stretch – before injury forced him into season-ending left knee surgery just 23 games in. A lateral meniscus injury Embiid sustained in February 2024 has sidelined him for extended periods in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons already. He played 36 games last year, and has played just 19 of 56 this year, dealing with a foot sprain on top of the injured knee.

Now, as the 76ers have dropped to 20-36 on the season, Embiid is reportedly “considering alternative options, such as surgery,” for his knee.

Embiid has evidently been constrained by his injury this season, even while playing. He’s averaging 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, well below his career averages of 27.7 and 11.0, and has the worst field goal percentage of his career. 

76ers coach Nick Nurse said as much following the team’s Saturday night loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

“He’s giving us what he can,” Nurse told reporters. “He’s not himself; we all know that. He’s not, certainly, the guy that we’re used to seeing play at a super-high level. But I commend him for giving us what he can.”

With championship hopes definitively buried for the time being, and Embiid’s injury continuing to impede his play, shutting him down may be the smartest move for the franchise. It’s in the 76ers’ interest to have Embiid, who turns 31 next month, stay healthy for the long-term. And every night he plays on his injured knee shortens his potential time – and productivity – in the league.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will miss the team’s upcoming road trip due to swelling in his left knee. According to the Sixers, he will receive treatment in the coming days.

The 76ers announced that Embiid recently recovered from a foot sprain that sidelined him for six games and caused knee swelling following an on-court workout on Thursday. He will be re-evaluated in seven to ten days, meaning he won’t play against the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets.

Embiid’s season has been significantly impacted by injuries, with the star center missing 26 games so far. The Sixers have faced difficulties without him, with an 8-18 record in his absence. His injuries have included left knee soreness and a sinus fracture, in addition to his three-game suspension following an incident with a reporter in the locker room.

With Embiid in the lineup, the Sixers have a record of 7-6.

His point and rebound career averages have also hit lows this season, with 24.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. His career averages in those areas are 27.8 points and 11.1 rebounds. He’s also shooting a career-low 45.2 percent from the field.

The team will need to rely heavily on Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to fill Embiid’s scoring void. However, George recently expressed frustration with his role. He told the media he feels “bored” playing the center position in Embiid’s absence. So far, the three of them have played just 10 games together.

The Sixers currently sit at the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 15-24, the eighth-worst in the league. This means their pick is currently eighth, but it will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder if it’s between 7-30.

Seven-time All-Star Joel Embiid has had a rough season.

Much-maligned for his injury troubles, Embiid missed the first nine games of the season under a suspension and “left knee management,” played four of the next five games, and then missed seven straight. When he returned, he suffered a sinus fracture that sidelined him for a game. Combined, going into Monday’s game against the Spurs, Embiid had played just seven of a possible 26 games. The 76ers were 9-17.

Starting against the Spurs, Embiid put up nine points, an assist, and three rebounds in 14 minutes. With three minutes left in the first half, though, he was hit with an offensive foul for charging through Victor Wembanyama.

Clearly upset, Embiid argued vehemently with referee Jenna Schroeder about the call. The argument created a prolonged altercation, during which Embiid followed Schroeder, ripped his protective face mask off, and continued to get in her face after receiving a technical foul for his behavior. He was eventually restrained by teammates, handed a second technical foul, and ejected.

The game was a wild one for ejections, with Schroeder also handing out an ejection to the 76ers’ Andre Drummond before overturning it via video review.

Philadelphia was able to pull out a five-point win on the back of a 32-point appearance from G Tyrese Maxey, and Embiid returned the following game, contributing 27 points to lift the 76ers over the 22-8 Boston Celtics.

The Sixers now sit at 11-17, but continue to rely heavily on the production of the 2023 MVP to win games, particularly with rookie Jared McCain out for the season. At 12th in the Eastern Conference, they have work to do if they plan to secure a playoff spot. And that will require Embiid to play more than eight full games per 28.

He and the 76ers return to action Saturday night against the Utah Jazz.

With their big three finally back in action Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered another setback when Paul George exited early with a hyperextended left knee. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey were still helped along by rookie sensation Jared McCain, but the Sixers still fell to 2-12 on the season in the 117-111 loss to the Grizzlies.

George is not expected to miss significant time, with coach Nick Nurse likening the injury to the bruise he worked through on the same knee several weeks ago. Tests will still be conducted to establish his potential return date.

Embiid, who has been heavily criticized for Philadelphia’s plan to frequently rest him this season, was easily the team’s standout player Wednesday. The big man scored 35 points with 11 rebounds, and McCain chipped in with his sixth straight 20-point game. But with Maxey shooting 3-for-13 on limited reps and George out again, the Sixers still appeared painfully hamstrung in the loss.

“Listen, it’s certainly not easy,” Nurse told reporters after the game. “Tyrese just getting back and didn’t really have a feel tonight, and Paul going out. … We didn’t put enough together again for 48.”

If Embiid had been available at the start of the season, it’s easy to argue that the Sixers would have more than two wins. It’s hard to take the argument much further than that, however. His absence is not the only issue for this team.

Based on the play deeper down the bench, excluding McCain, it’s clear that the supporting cast in Philly can’t carry a franchise at the NBA level. Maxey tried to carry the team and failed while also playing himself into an injury earlier this season. 

Much like his star teammate, Embiid has consistent injury concerns and can only do so much. George is a veteran at this point, far removed from his one-man-show days in Indiana. If the Sixers can’t consistently start their three best players together, this team will likely continue down this treacherous path to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. 

Fourteen games in, most teams have used the early part of the season to settle in and develop a system. Seemingly at least one man down at all times, Philadelphia is already well behind the curve.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George received a mixed homecoming upon returning to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Wednesday night. The team honored him with a video tribute before the game, but he also received several choruses of boos from fans upset with his departure in free agency this past off-season.

“It is stupid,” George said of the crowd’s reactions after the game. “I mean, I was a free agent, you know what I mean? It wasn’t something that I demanded a trade or went against the team here. I was a free agent. The team presented something that was team-friendly, and I did what was best for me in that situation.”

George finished the game with 18 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes on the floor, his second appearance in the regular season since recovering from an injury. His addition did little to help, however, as the Sixers struggled to build any momentum without star Joel Embiid and lost 110-98.

Clippers fans have received a lot of attention early in the 2024-25 season for their boisterous reactions on The Wall, the name for the steep, consecutive rows of seats behind the visitor’s baseline. This arrangement has made the arena a unique playing environment, giving fans the chance to make themselves heard by the likes of George.

After five seasons in Los Angeles, the 34-year-old veteran opted to leave in free agency, eventually landing in Philadelphia on a four-year, $211 million deal. The Clippers made it to the playoffs in three of his five seasons with the team and advanced to the conference finals in 2021.

In a new arena without George, the Clippers have gotten off to a pedestrian 4-4 start this season, leaning heavily on point guard James Harden while Kawhi Leonard misses time with an injury. Shooting guard Norman Powell has also stepped up early in the season and led the Clippers with 26 points in their win over the Sixers.

Los Angeles fans made it clear that they’re missing George to an extent, but the nine-time All-Star hasn’t done anything to help Philadelphia through a brutal opening stretch. With Embiid banged up and George only recently returning, star point guard Tyrese Maxey has tried but failed to carry the team singlehandedly. Now, Maxey is expected to miss several weeks with a hamstring injury. The Sixers are 1-6 so far this season without a clear road forward.

Joel Embiid’s name came up twice in NBA news this week as he continues to rehab from a lower-body injury and has yet to take the court.

In a game against the Indiana Pacers, he waved a towel during Andrew Nembhard‘s free throw attempt, which the NBA later assessed as a technical foul, although the referees did not see it or call it during the game. The Philadelphia 76ers won 118-114, which is their only win of the season, starting from the year 1-2.

On Tuesday, the NBA announced that it is fining the Philadelphia 76ers $100,000 for “inconsistent messaging” about his injury. In the off-season, Embiid said he would be willing to play below the 65-game threshold that the NBA instituted for players to be eligible for individual recognition to curb resting players.

The former MVP played less than half of his team’s game last season and does not have a timetable on when he will play this year as he deals with “left knee management.” Paul George, who signed a four-year deal with the 76ers in free agency during the off-season, has also not played after getting banged up in the pre-season and dealing with a hyperextended knee. Head coach Nick Nurse spoke on his two star’s health on Tuesday.

“We want these guys to play and we want them to be healthy and we want them to play great, and we want them to play great all season,” Nurse said. “Then my main focus is, I’ve got to do the job that I’ve got to do. I’ve got to try to get this team to play as good as it can tomorrow night. That takes a big chunk of my focus and whatever. I’m just trying to concentrate on my job at hand.”

Philadelphia takes on the Detroit Pistons at home on Wednesday.

The United States men’s basketball team defeated South Sudan 103-86 Wednesday in its second group stage match of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Team USA remains undefeated in eight straight games since assembling for exhibition play last month.

During a relatively rough stretch heading into the Olympics, the Americans survived a few near misses, the closest of which came against South Sudan in a 101-100 victory. The rematch between the two teams was more decisive, however, as U.S. players have clearly buckled down in Olympics competition.

No single American player was a hero Wednesday, as the team instead made the most of its stacked roster to overwhelm its South Sudanese opponents. Big man Bam Adebayo led the team in scoring with 18 points, but Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards and LeBron James all put up double-digit totals as well.

The most conspicuous absence over the course of the game was Philadelphia 76ers star and former NBA MVP Joel Embiid, who did not play a single minute against South Sudan. Team USA coach Steve Kerr explained that it was simply a matchup decision and confirmed that Embiid will play Saturday against Puerto Rico.

This is not the first time that Kerr has sat a star player in order to secure an Olympics victory. In the team’s game against Serbia on Sunday, reigning NBA champion and Celtics leader Jayson Tatum did not appear on the floor.

“It’s a unique situation, and it’s not about one individual player, competitor in you wants to play obviously, but I’m not here to make a story about myself,” Tatum told reporters Wednesday. “You win a championship, new contract, NBA 2K25 cover, Sports Illustrated … so after all of this, it’s definitely a humbling experience.”

The sheer depth of talent on Team USA is staggering and has reduced most of the team’s NBA stars to role players. Other teams in the competition are fortunate to have a handful of NBA-caliber talent; the United States has 12 of the very best, which will occasionally limit a player that would normally be a key difference maker.

With a 110-84 victory over Serbia already on the books in the group stage, Team USA has clinched a spot in the quarterfinals with one group stage match still left to play. Puerto Rico has already lost two games, but a game between South Sudan and Serbia on Saturday will determine the second team in the group to advance.

“The goal is always to win a championship,” Joel Embiid told ESPN in his first sit-down since general manager Daryl Morey put together a big three in Philadelphia by adding Paul George to the roster.

Embiid appears healthy, playing summer basketball with Team USA this summer at the Olympics. But, he cannot wait to touch the floor with George, a nine-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA performer.

“I don’t have to exert myself and make sure I have to have 30, 40 every single night for us to win, and I can let them do their thing.”

“On paper, and as far as the fit, it looks fantastic because you got both guys that can play off the ball, and they can play on ball, and they’re great shooters, and they can handle the ball, and then you also got me.”

George can carry a team on his own, something the 76ers have not given Embiid during his time in Philly. Ben Simmons was the first attempt at someone who could pair with the former MVP, but he never found his rhythm and flamed out of Philadelphia.

Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler were the next options, but the former worsened each season, and the latter bottled for Miami after a one-year stint. Tyrese Maxey just received a max extension from the 76ers, but being the third star, not the co-star, fits his game as he develops as a player. George and Embiid have never advanced to the NBA Finals or won an NBA championship, but the new trio will have the best crack in their professional careers at a title.

While stars influence winning the most in the NBA, the 76ers got depth around their top talent. Caleb Martin took a flight north from the Miami Heat, signing a four-year $32 million deal with his former Eastern Conference rival. Kyle Lowry decided to stay in his hometown for at least one more season.

The pieces have fallen into place and Philadelphia can start dreaming of the season for the first time in years.

The Philadelphia 76ers owners and former owner Michael Rubin combined forces to buy more than 2,000 of their tickets for the team’s Game 6 matchup against the New York Knicks on Thursday. The owners will give away the tickets to specific groups in Philadelphia, hoping to avoid another takeover after Knicks fans flooded the Wells Fargo Center for Game 4.

“Josh Harris, David Blitzer, [David Adelman], and I just bought more than 2,000 tix for Sixers Game 6 – we CANNOT let Knicks fans take over our arena again!!!” Rubin posted on X earlier this week. “Giving them to first responders, health care professionals and other local Philadelphia-based organizations once we know they’re legit Sixers fans and not imposters!!”

The 76ers fanbase is reinvigorated in response to the overwhelming presence of New York fans in its arena in Game 4, a 97-92 Knicks victory. Nearly 100 miles from Madison Square Garden, chants for Knicks star Jalen Brunson to win MVP echoed through the rafters as the road team took a 3-1 series lead and put Philadelphia on the brink of elimination. 76ers star Joel Embiid admitted being frustrated about the turnout after the game.

“It’s disappointing,” Embiid told reporters. “It kind of pisses me off, especially because Philly is considered a sports town. They’ve always shown up, and I don’t think that should happen. It’s not ok.”

In New York for Game 5, the 76ers won a do-or-die game 112-106 after Philadelphia point guard Tyrese Maxey hit a clutch shot in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime. Not only did the win keep the team alive, but it also gave 76ers fans another home game. It could be their last of the 2023-24 season. As the Knicks fanbase rallies around its team amid a historic season, the 76ers fanbase may have one more opportunity to respond.

Jalen Brunson set a Knicks franchise record as his 47 points and ten assists helped New York beat the Philadelphia 76ers 97-93 in Game 4 of the opening round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

OG Anunoby scored a critical 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Josh Hart scored four points, five assists and 15 rebounds, helping the Knicks take a 3-1 series lead. Joel Embiid scored 27 points and ten rebounds for the Sixers, but they shot only 35.4% as a team compared to 43% and a plus-10 rebounding advantage for New York. Philadelphia ended the game by missing its last 11 field goal attempts.

Brunson’s 47 points were a franchise playoff record for the Knicks, and he is the first player in team history to finish with at least 40 points and ten assists. He is also one of two players to be involved in at least 70 points in back-to-back playoff games, as he ended with 39 points and 13 assists in their Game 3 loss.

“Jalen’s a great player,” Anunoby said about Brunson after the game. You come to expect it. You expect him to make every shot. He’s a great player. Even when he was cold the first couple of games, you knew he would turn it around—just ’cause we see him every day.”

The last two games’ scoring has been an extreme bounce back for Brunson, as in Games 1 and 2, he combined for 16/55 shooting. Since then, he’s combined for 86 points and 23 assists, and despite their bad start, throughout the series, he is averaging 28.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists.

As the heart and soul of the Knicks team this year, Brunson averaged a similar 28.7 points and 6.7 assists in the regular season as he led New York to a No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. It was the Knicks’ best regular season in over a decade, and Brunson was named an All-Star for the first time in his career. He signed a four-year $104 million deal with the team in 2022 after a successful campaign with the Dallas Mavericks, and since then, his value has only risen. When Brunson arrived with the Knicks, many questioned if he could be a team’s first option. Since then, he has become one of the most famous athletes in recent New York history.

“I think we learned that throughout the course of the season,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said after the win. “Jalen has played at such an incredible high level all season long, and we can play off that.”

The Knicks’ rebounding advantage was a critical factor in pulling out the win in Philadelphia, led by a combined 31 rebounds by Anunoby and Hart. New York grabbed seven offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter and only allowed two second-chance points from the Sixers. New York has six players averaging more than 10 points per game in the playoffs, including Anunoby, Miles McBride, Isaiah Hartenstein and Donte DiVincenzo. Hart also played a significant role for the team throughout the first four playoff games, as he was second on the team in points, with 21 per game, and first in rebounds, with 11.3 per game. Though only 6’4″, Hart has been playing power forward and has been dominant over Tobias Harris on the other end of the floor.

Though they had the lead at halftime and with only a few minutes remaining, Embiid and Philly’s chance to win the series just slipped away. After the game, Embiid said he was “disappointed” with the energy from home fans in Wells Fargo Center as the game neared an end.

“Disappointing,” Embiid said.”I love our fans. Think it’s unfortunate, and I’m not calling them out, but it is disappointing. Obviously, you got a lot of Knicks fans, and they’re down the road…I’ve never seen it, and I’ve been here for ten years. Yeah, it kind of pisses me off, especially because Philly is considered a sports town. They’ve always shown up and I don’t think that should happen. Yeah. It’s not ok.”

Embiid scored 50 in the Sixers only win of the season, while in their three losses this series he has averaged 30 points per game. Tyrese Maxey is the only other player for Philly to average more than 12 points per game, scoring 31 points per contest this postseason.

New York can wrap up the series and advance to the second round with a win in Game 4 on April 30 at Madison Square Garden.

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey combined for 69 points in the Philadelphia 76ers’ last-minute loss to the New York Knicks in Game 2 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Both came into Monday as questionable with injury and illness, but Embiid’s 34, 10, 6 and Maxey’s 35, 9, 10 weren’t enough to win on the road. Philadelphia had a five-point lead with less than a minute to go, but a Josh Hart steal and a Donte DiVincenzo three-pointer helped the Knicks secure the victory and go up 2-0 in the series.

Despite having their two-star players and a late lead, the Sixers couldn’t hold off the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. One reason for the loss could also be the officiating, and the 76ers said they intend to file an official grievance with the NBA for multiple missed calls throughout the game. Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse had complaints about the referees after the game.

“I called timeout. The referee looked right at me and ignored me. It went into Tyrese. I called timeout again. Then the melee started,” Nurse said. “I guess I’ve got to run out on the floor or do something to get his attention. I needed a timeout to advance it. It would’ve been good. I couldn’t get it.”

Embiid, who played on Monday despite leaving Game 1 after being poked in the eye and dealing with a lingering knee injury, also raised questions about the officiating throughout the series. Regardless, he claimed the Sixers are still in a position to advance to the second round.

“We’re good,” Embiid said. “We’re going to win this series. We’re going to win this. …We’re the better team.”

Maxey missed the team’s morning shootaround and was questionable coming into Game 2 with an illness. Despite that, he led the team in points, defensive rebounds, assists and minutes, playing all but four minutes the entire night. He hit three three-pointers in the first quarter to help the Sixers grab an early seven-point lead, but along with Embiid, needed help to get the job done against the much more balanced Knicks team. Maxey and Embiid were the only players for Philadelphia to score more than 10 points on Monday night and are averaging a combined 65.5 points per game in the series, more than half of the team’s 102.5 playoff average.

For the Knicks, the Game 2 win was something they could have only dreamed of with a minute to play. They were down most of the night, shooting only 40.7% from the floor as a team, but had a solid second half to bring the game back within closing distance.

With 30 seconds left, Jalen Brunson hit a three-pointer to bring the lead down to two. Then, Hart stole the ball from Maxey on the inbound pass, feeding it to DiVincenzo to give New York the lead. DiVincenzo missed, but Isaiah Hartenstein came up with the offensive rebound, and the ball eventually got back to DiVincenzo, where he hit a three-pointer to take a one-point lead with 13 seconds left.

Hartenstein then blocked Maxey’s layup attempt with six seconds left, giving the Knicks the ball and two free throws. Maxey ran up the court for one final tying attempt and passed it to Embiid, who tried a last-second three-pointer but missed.

The Knicks finished the last 30 seconds of the game on an 8-0 run, as the first team in playoff history to win a game in regulation after being down by five with half a minute remaining. New York had five players score at least 10 points, with Brunson and Hart leading the way with stats of 24, 8, 6 and 21, 15, 3 respectively.

The Knicks won the first two games of the series at home but with an average margin of victory of just five points. The 76ers have been unhealthy but are still getting great performances out of their stars, and now have back-to-back games at home. New York still has the upper hand in the series but must take advantage of a short-staffed Sixers roster that relies heavily on their top talent. The Knicks have Brunson as their undoubted leader, but big games from Hart, DiVincenzo and Hartenstein, like on Monday, are the key to their success.

Game 3 of the series is on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

LeBron James will headline a stacked United States national basketball team roster in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Three years after a depleted American group won gold, many of the NBA’s top stars are signing on to form a modern-day Dream Team.

The U.S. team had an abundance of options for this year, as countless NBA stars expressed interest in playing. In the end, the organization chose 12 players that represent a healthy mix of NBA superstardom and proven Olympics experience.

In addition the James, the following players will represent the United States in Paris: Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Steph Curry, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Kawhi Leonard and Jayson Tatum.

Grant Hill, the U.S. men’s senior team managing director, said that he and his team went through a rigorous process to assemble the best team possible.

“A lot of thought did go into, and I’m sure everyone on here understands that the FBA game is a different game than the NBA game,” Hill said. “And so you want players whose games certainly translate on that stage. I’ll be honest, I learned a great deal having gone through last summer. I learned certainly the teams, the elite teams, the teams that seriously have a chance to contend for gold medal. I learned the diversity and styles and just to feed the game overall. I mean, you go through a World Cup, you really pick up on quite a deal, quite a bunch.”

Several players, like Curry and Embiid, will be making their first Olympics experience this year, with the latter star choosing to represent the U.S. over Cameroon and France. Others, like James and Durant, have made multiple appearances in the Olympics and proven integral in earning four straight gold medals for their home country.

“It’s more miles put on these tires,” James said about his Olympics commitment back in February. “But if I’m committed — which I am — to Team USA, then I’m going to commit my mind, body and soul to being out there for Team USA, being out there representing our country with the utmost respect and go out there and play.”

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Miami Heat 105-104 in the Play-In Tournament Wednesday, earning the seventh seed in the playoffs. In the comeback victory, 76ers star and reigning MVP Joel Embiid proved he could be a massive problem for the second-seeded New York Knicks in the first round.

Down 12 at the half, Embiid led Philadelphia in a steady and consistent charge, taking the lead late in the game and surviving a last-second Miami rally to hang on by a point. The big man, who recently returned from injury, ended the game with 20 points and 15 rebounds. 

“It means a lot,” Embiid told reporters after the game. “Being down a lot … we stuck together. It shows you that. I don’t play my best, and I don’t get to my spots the whole game until the fourth quarter when we still found a way to win. They like to make it nasty and we can do it, too, and we made it nasty, too.”

While Miami will have to face the Chicago Bulls for the right to the eighth seed, Philadelphia will now prepare for the postseason and a matchup with the Knicks. New York spent most of the regular season vying for the third or fourth seed with the Orlando Magic, but the team flew to No. 2 in the Eastern Conference after the Milwaukee Bucks collapsed in the final 10 games.

While the Knicks will have to compete without Julius Randle, who suffered a season-ending injury last month, the team is still led by point guard Jalen Brunson, who has stepped into superstardom and scored 28.7 points per game this season. The team has been one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this year, but there are still questions about New York’s ability to handle Embiid.

While the Knicks overperformed in the 2023-24 season, earning 50 wins for the first time in three decades, the 76ers vastly underperformed in a season where they were expected to vie for a championship. 

Coming off a loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinal last year, the team spent most of this season treading water. Embiid’s injury in January didn’t help, but his return earlier this month could not have been more timely. Philadelphia won its last eight regular-season games and has yet to lose in April.

In the playoffs, the team’s records no longer matter, and though the Knicks still have home-court advantage, the 76ers are on roughly even terms with the team now that Embiid has returned. The series, which begins this weekend, could come down to New York’s ability to defend the versatile center, something Miami and many other teams have already tried and failed to do.

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid has been out since late January following knee surgery but is set to return to the lineup this week. Embiid had left meniscus surgery after an injury in a January 30 loss to the Golden State Warriors but has ramped back up since then and is ready to make a return as the push for the playoffs begins.

Before his injury, the reigning league MVP was putting up numbers that had only been seen since Wilt Chamberlain.

From October through January, Embiid averaged a league-high 35.3 points per game, along with 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.8 blocks. He was also the only player since Chamberlain in 1962 to average more points than minutes played. Though he’s put up numbers that haven’t been seen this century, Embiid is unable to win any league awards because he won’t play the minimum 70% of games this year.

In the span without their star, the Sixers held a 29-17 record and were fifth in the East, but following his absence, the team is now 40-37 and eighth in the conference standings. Since Embiid’s injury, the team has gone 11-18 in February and March.

Point guard Tyrese Maxey has been leading the team in his place for Philadelphia. This year, as a first-time All-Star, Maxey is averaging a career-high 25.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists. Following the trade of James Harden and with Embiid out, Maxey has been the major factor for the Sixers’ season still being alive at all. Tobias Harris, averaging 17.2 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr., averaging 15 points, have also provided key roles for the team, but without Embiid they remain near the middle of the standings.

In the team’s last 10 games, they’ve gone 4-6 and have slowly fallen out of the top of the conference. Sitting four games ahead of the Chicago Bulls for eighth in the standings, the addition of Embiid will be a huge factor in the 76ers’ playoff push this month to get out of the 7-10 seeds forced into the NBA Play-In games.

Philadelphia currently has seven games left on its regular season schedule and will need to win as many as possible in order to make a deep playoff run. The team didn’t look like world-beaters with their star, but with the addition of Embiid and his almost impossible stat line this season, they need him to win the important games down the stretch. The Sixers play their next game on Tuesday night against the OKC Thunder, and Embiid might return for the first time in over two months for that game.

For the 76ers, every game this season now matters more than ever, and with Embiid returning from injury, they could make a run at just the right time.

The Philadelphia 76ers have tumbled from contention for the first seed in the Eastern Conference to now avoiding the dreaded play-in game(s).

With Philly’s playoff chances slipping away, the return of their best player is needed now more than ever. 

Superstar center and reigning 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid has “started on-court workouts” nearly a month after a meniscus injury he suffered in early February, according to ESPN’s Katie George. He has been lifting weights equivalent to what he had been lifting before the injury, indicating he is on a positive path to full recovery.

Embiid had a lateral meniscus injury during a Jan. 30 match against the Golden State Warriors. He faced an uncertain timetable to return, but it seems that the first re-evaluation four weeks after the injury brought good news to Embiid and the Sixers.

In 34 games, Embiid averaged a stunning 35.3 points per game, 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists. He has proved to be irreplaceable, as the Sixers have gone only 6-8 since he last played. Even with Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris, the team is just not the same without their superstar. Sitting at 35-26 and the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia has their work cut out for them to salvage their season and continue a run that many fans thought could be a championship-caliber squad.

On Feb. 29, during Embiid’s first press conference since the injury, he was asked if he would return this season. His answer? “Everything has to go right as far as getting healthy and being as close as I’m supposed to be,” he told the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey. “But yeah, that’s the plan.”

The Philadelphia 76ers will have to navigate life without their best player.

The team announced Thursday that star center Joel Embiid suffered a lateral meniscus injury during Tuesday’s match against the Golden State Warriors. With an uncertain timetable to return, here are the potential ramifications of Embiid’s absence.

Who will fill in for Embiid who is on the current roster?

Point guard Tyler Maxey is the de-factor replacement leader for the Sixers. He averages 26.2 points per game and already leads his team in minutes played per game. The fourth-year player is well-prepared to carry the offense during Embiid’s absence. Veterans Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre Jr. are also capable players who can step up in the interim to replace Embiid’s offensive production. 

Will the 76ers make any moves before the trade deadline?

It might be best if the Sixers aim not to replace Embiid, but simply add a piece that can complement the reigning MVP once he returns. The deadline is fast approaching (February 8), but an intriguing option could be Indiana Pacers small forward and shooting guard Buddy Hield. With one year remaining on his contract, he could be moved to a team with more legitimate championship aspirations. Hield is a fantastic three-point shooter who can make up initially in Embiid’s absence but can complement the superstar well down the road when both players are healthy and on the court. A contending team adding more shooting talent can’t be a bad thing, with or without considering Embiid’s injury.

What does this all mean for the rest of the Eastern Conference?

Philadelphia, as of Sunday afternoon, is fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, holding a 30-18 record. They have some breathing room in avoiding the play-in game as well. However, the Sixers are already 6.5 games behind the Boston Celtics for first in the conference. The Embiid injury means that any slim hopes of Philadelphia chasing a top seed in the postseason are likely over. This doesn’t mean Philadelphia can’t survive or even thrive for the rest of the season- but expectations have been lowered for now. 

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid scored a career-high 70 points in a win against the Spurs on Monday night. Embiid, who won last year’s NBA MVP award, is the ninth player in league history to score 70 or more, and the first in the 76ers franchise history.

Along with the 70 points on 24/41 FG shooting and 21/23 made free throws, Embiid collected 18 rebounds and five steals in his 37 minutes played. His stat line in Monday’s 133-123 win in San Antonio was the first 70-15-5 game in NBA history.

Embiid is currently ranked first in the NBA in scoring with 36.1 points per game, and sixth in rebounds with 11.6 per game. He is now the third center to hit the 70-point mark, behind a 73-point game from David Robinson, and Wilt Chamberlain to hit the mark six times highlighted most famously by his 100-point game in 1962.

“Like I said, unselfish teammates. They just got me the ball and I was hot. They made sure that they put me in the best position. And credit to the coaching staff too,” Embiid said after the game. “To be in the same conversation [as Chamberlain] is pretty cool.”

Embiid is currently ranked first in the NBA in scoring with 36.1 points per game and sixth in rebounds with 11.6 per game. Though only playing in 32 of the team’s 42 games this year, he is outmatching his statistics from last year that won him the MVP. If Embiid continues to miss games he will be taken out of consideration for the award this year, but the numbers he has been putting up cement himself,  as one of the league’s best players today.

Embiid won last year’s MVP award in a tight race to eventual Finals MVP Nikola Jokic, who won the regular season award the two seasons prior. Though many like to argue over whose play style they prefer or who they think is better, the competition between the two have been signifying a change in the NBA and its style of play.

For the past ten years since the rise of the three-pointer, centers and big men have only become less and less prominent and valuable with the style of open play. Many teams even ran lineups without a center or even a player taller than 6’9″, but that has changed with players like Embiid and Jokic in the league. With their unique styles of play and extreme popularity in their respective cities, the two have shifted what it means to be a big man in the NBA, not just grabbing rebounds for shooters, but being able to have them bring the ball up and run a play like a point guard.

The Sixers are currently 29-13 on the season and third in the Eastern Conference, behind only the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. They have looked strong with new head coach Nick Nurse, but Philadelphia has struggled in the playoffs since Embiid has been their star player. Though making the playoffs the past six years, the team has yet to reach the conference finals, losing to the Celtics three times in that span.

Embiid’s 70-point game was the highest scoring mark of this season, and it is the eighth time in his career scoring more than 50 in a game. It was the fourth 70 point game of the 21st century, with Damian Lilliard and Donovan Mitchell scoring 71 each in 2023, Devin Booker with 70 in 2017, and 81 points by the late Kobe Bryant in 2006.

The NBA has fined Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid $35,000 for his recent celebration against the Portland Trail Blazers. 

During the celebration, Embiid was seen doing a “crotch chop” after hitting a layup.

The move resembled the “Suck It” celebration made popular by WWE’s D-Generation X. The 76ers ended up winning the game 126-98, with Embiid finishing with 35 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and six blocked shots.

After Embiid’s fine was announced, WWE legend Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H invited the NBA Star to Wrestlemania 40, which will be held in Philadelphia in April 2024. 

“Hey [Joel Embiid] – I know a place where you can do that all day, and everyone will love it. [Wrestlemania] 40 is right there in Philly,” Triple H posted to X.

Embiid has been previously fined before. The NBA ordered him to pay $25,000 for performing the same celebration against the Brooklyn Nets in January. Embiid’s fine against the Trailblazers was his first of the season.

Recent reports suggest that Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden will opt out of his contract with the team to test free agency this offseason. Harden signed a two-year deal with the team in 2021 and would have received $35.6 million in a third-year option.

Following a 2021-22 season in which the 76ers lost to the Miami Heat in the conference semifinals, Harden took a $15 million pay cut in order to make space for the team to build around him and MVP Joel Embiid. The team lost again in the conference semifinals this season, however. Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes reported that Harden now wants the security of multiple years for another competitive team.

“The Houston Rockets have long been a rumored destination, but sources say Harden will only entertain suitors that present a competitive roster and the basketball freedom for the star to be himself,” Haynes reported.

Harden’s stint in Philadelphia was promising at times, as he and Embiid did produce together to maintain the team’s status as a title contender. The Sixers also improved to an extent this year and took the highly touted Boston Celtics to seven games in the postseason. Supporting players did not contribute consistently around the pair, however, and the experiment will now end prematurely.

“I can’t win alone,” Embiid said after the Sixers’ Game 7 loss. “Me and James [Harden], we just can’t win alone. That’s why basketball is played 5-on-5.”

Harden, now 33, will enter his 17th season in the NBA later this year. The 2018 MVP can no longer produce as he once did but could still be an incredibly valuable addition to a number of teams. If he signs with the Rockets, he would rejoin the team that he has spent most of his career with, often as the lone star falling short of championship glory. The team would likely build around Harden with younger talent to escape the doldrums of the Western Conference.

When the Philadelphia 76ers won Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup against the Boston Celtics without Joel Embiid, many were caught off guard by the upset. But what could have been a statement win in the series turned out to be little more than a wake-up call, as the Celtics emerged in Game 2 Wednesday night and put away the Sixers early, winning 121-87.

Understanding how Philadelphia won Game 1 begins and ends with James Harden, who scored 45 points in Embiid’s injury-related absence to propel the team to a 119-115 victory. The Celtics didn’t necessarily play poorly in the contest, but Harden simply seemed to turn back the clock and stole the game from the perimeter. It’s a good way to win a single contest, but it’s not a sustainable strategy for a series.

Even with Embiid back on the floor in Game 2, the Sixers as a unit appeared dull while the Celtics went on to have a typical night, including a 35-point third quarter which effectively ended the game. Embiid, possibly still easing back into play, scored a meager 15 points while Harden only scored 12. The guard didn’t make a single three-pointer after shooting 50% on 14 shots from beyond the arc in Game 1.

The offense around the two suffered in turn — Tyrese Maxey’s points total was halved from 26 in Game 1 to 13 in Game 2. De’Anthony Milton was a non-factor off the bench after scoring 17 points in the team’s earlier victory.

Comparing the offenses of the Sixers and Celtics is like comparing the styles of a knockout boxer and ring tactician. The Sixers’ offense runs through two players, Embiid and Harden, and one could even argue that the recently crowned MVP takes sole control more often than not. If a team manages to contain the pair, as the Celtics did Wednesday night, it becomes very difficult for Philadelphia to produce.

The Celtics, on the other hand, never rely on a single scorer, with at least six players having the ability to make a difference on any given night. In Game 1, Jayson Tatum was the focal point with 39 points, but when he appeared limited by an injury in Game 2, the team’s production didn’t suffer at all. Jaylen Brown and Malcolm Brogdon combined for 48 points and none of the team’s starters had to play more than 30 minutes in the blowout.

Boston’s statement in Game 2 was clear and momentum has firmly swung back in the team’s direction early on in the series, but Philadelphia still has winning chances. Just like in Game 1, one of the team’s two stars will simply have to play at an incredible level to defeat the best team left in the playoffs. Embiid is sure to improve over the course of the series as he gradually returns to full-time action, and Harden simply has to make the same shots he made in Game 1.

With the Celtics in a seemingly unstoppable groove on offense, the only way for the Sixers to win is by meeting the challenge head-on. Anything short of perfection will likely yield similarly poor results,