Sixers star Joel Embiid to miss Game 2 against Knicks with ankle, hip injuries

Joel Embiid is back on the playoff sidelines.

The Sixers downgraded Embiid’s status for Game 2 of their second-round series with the Knicks to out Wednesday afternoon. He’d initially been listed as probable. 

The NBA’s official report listed Embiid’s injuries as “right ankle sprain and right hip soreness.” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Embiid had been “receiving around-the-clock treatment in efforts to play” and did not participate in the Sixers’ shootaround “after experiencing increased soreness in both his ankle and hip.”

Embiid also took a painful shot to the abdomen Monday in the second half of the Sixers’ 39-point Game 1 loss to the Knicks.  He had 14 points and four rebounds over 25 minutes in that game, which was his fifth since returning from an appendectomy.

He’s averaged 25.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists so far this postseason.  Playing through obvious pain and discomfort at times, Embiid’s still been highly valuable to the Sixers as an offensive hub and defensive anchor. 

Without Embiid, Andre Drummond and Adem Bona are the Sixers’ next two centers in line. Bona began the Celtics series as the Sixers’ starting big man but fell out of the rotation. 

Perhaps Sixers head coach Nick Nurse will add another player or two to his rotation like Jabari Walker, especially given how tired the Sixers looked in Game 1. Regardless, the Sixers will have to dramatically raise their level of play to even the series with Embiid sitting.

“We’re a resilient group,” Drummond before the team’s Wednesday morning shootaround at Madison Square Garden. “They did what they’re supposed to do. They’re at home, they had three days off, they played a great game. You can’t beat teams that are shooting (about) 60 percent from three and from the field. … We’ll come out tonight, make the adjustments and play the way we’re supposed to play.”