Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will not return in Game 4 against the Washington Wizards with right knee soreness.
Embiid had a hard fall in the first quarter after getting his layup blocked by Wizards center Robin Lopez. While he initially stayed in the game, Embiid exited to the locker room at the end of the first quarter and did not return to the court from that point on.
It’s unfortunate for Philadelphia, as Embiid dominated the first quarter with eight points, six rebounds and two assists. He also helped draw four fouls on Wizards centers Daniel Gafford and Alex Len, two each, in the first five minutes of the game.
His absence helped spark a rally by the Wizards, as Lopez scored 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field. The 76ers had built an 11-point lead but after Embiid’s fall, the complexion of the game altered dramatically.
