Philadelphia’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad bubble continues.
Joel Embiid went back to the locker room during the first quarter of the 76ers game against the Trail Blazers and will not return to the court due to a left ankle injury, the team announced, via Serena Winters of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Joel Embiid is in the locker room.
Here is the most recent play where he went for a loose ball before the timeout. pic.twitter.com/ovZyMWQXvq
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 9, 2020
Joel Embiid will NOT return to tonight's game (left ankle injury).
Embiid went to the lockeroom midway through the first quarter. It appeared that his left foot awkwardly hit the stanchion, after defending Wenyen Gabriel at the rim. #Sixers
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) August 9, 2020
There are no other details yet on Embiid’s condition. He has been far-and-away the best player on a Philadelphia team that has struggled through the NBA’s restart in Orlando.
The 76ers have already lost Ben Simmons, likely for the rest of this season, due to knee surgery.
Despite the injuries and rough play, Philly was 3-1 entering Sunday. However, the one loss was to red-hot T.J. Warren and Indiana, which essentially locked the 76ers into the six seed (and a likely first-round meeting with Boston).
Embiid is averaging 30 points a game in Orlando and put up a ridiculous 41 points, 21 rebounds line against Indiana.
If Embiid misses much time, the Sixers’ chances against any team near the top of the East are slim. At best.