- Joel Embiid suffered a knee injury scare after landing awkwardly on Saturday
- He rose to perform a spectacular dunk, but then grabbed his surgically repaired knee.
- DailyMail.com provides the latest international sports news.
Joel Embiid suffered a knee injury scare after landing awkwardly following a spectacular dunk against the New York Knicks on Saturday night.
Embiid returned to the locker room with just under three minutes left in the second quarter of the Philadelphia 76ers’ first-round playoff game at Madison Square Garden.
Embiid had the ball on the line, threw it off the backboard to himself, got up and slammed it in with 2:49 left in the second quarter. But he immediately grabbed his left knee after landing and fell to the court.
After the Knicks scored on the other end, the 76ers took some time and were finally able to help Embiid recover. He walked to the locker room area and missed the rest of the first half, but returned to start the second.
Fortunately, he returned to the court at the start of the second half and seemed pain-free.
Joel Embiid suffered another suspected knee injury after landing awkwardly following a dunk.
Embiid threw him off the backboard, got up and punched him before grabbing his left knee.
He returned to the court at the start of the second half and seemed pain-free.
Embiid tore the meniscus in his left knee on Jan. 30 against Golden State and had surgery on Feb. 6.
He returned earlier this month to help Philadelphia reach the playoffs, but has still struggled with his knee.
Embiid was listed as questionable entering the game and was not cleared to play until he finished his workout.
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart each scored 22 points and Deuce McBride led a strong effort by New York’s reserves with 21 as the Knicks beat the 76ers 111-104 in Game 1.
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart each scored 22 points and the Knicks beat the 76ers 111-104
McBride single-handedly outscored the 76ers with 13 points in the second quarter, when Embiid had to leave.
He came back and put the 76ers ahead in the second half, but Josh Hart hit a pair of big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the Knicks do it.
Hart also grabbed 13 rebounds for the Knicks, who had lost Game 1 the last three times they opened a home series. They organize the second match on Monday.
Embiid finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 33 points.