The complexion changed to Game 4 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards once 76ers center Joel Embiid took a hard fall in the first quarter. He was ruled out of the game for right knee soreness. Now, the complexion of the remainder of the first-round playoff series could change dramatically following the recent update to Embiid’s injury.
Following the 122-114 Wizards’ win, 76ers head coach Doc Rivers told reporters Embiid will have an MRI Tuesday on his right knee. Rivers said “I actually don’t know” if Embiid will be able to play in Wednesday’s Game 5 in Philadelphia, per Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times.
The 76ers won the first three games of the series to build a 3-0 lead behind back-to-back blowout wins in Games 2 and 3. With a chance to sweep the Wizards out of the playoffs, it appeared Philadelphia was well on their way in the first quarter.
Embiid tallied eight points and six rebounds. He attacked the paint and drew four early fouls on Wizards center, Daniel Gafford and Alex Len with two for each player. However, the game changed when Robin Lopez blocked Embiid’s layup.
Embiid fell hard on the floor underneath the basket. It appeared his back may have taken the blunt of the fall. Yet, his right leg appeared to buckle on contact when taking a closer view.
He exited the game and went to the locker room at the conclusion of the first quarter. After remaining in the locker room the entire second quarter, the 76ers ruled him out for the remainder of the game.
Philadelphia had built an 11-point lead in the first quarter, but the Wizards rallied to win the game, as the 76ers looked lost without it’s MVP candidate on the floor.
Earlier this season Embiid suffered an injury to his left knee after it hyperextended in a March game against the Wizards. He missed the following 10 games.
If he is unavailable for Game 5, the Wizards chances of staying alive in the series increase. Philadelphia will have a hard time defending the paint where the Wizards love to operate its offense. Not to mention, Gafford controlled the paint on the defensive end, making five blocks without Embiid’s presence on the court.
76ers reserve center Dwight Howard just didn’t match up well against Gafford or Lopez, who scored 16 points in 19 minutes on 8-of-11 shooting. Philadelphia is up 3-1 and just needs one win to seal the series to advance. But, it appears the complexion of the series hinges on the health of Joel Embiid.
