NEW YORK — Joel Embiid left Game 1 of the Philadelphia 76ers’ first-round series against the New York Knicks late in the second quarter after he seemed to injure his left knee once again.
Embiid missed 30 games this season after tearing the meniscus in his left knee, for which he underwent surgery in February.
Embiid was injured Saturday at the end of one of the most dominant plays in the league this season. Caught up without a dribble in the paint while being guarded by 7-foot Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, Embiid threw himself an alley-oop off the backboard, caught it and threw it down one-handed. But he appeared hurt when he landed and immediately went down to the ground.
Embiid was on the ground for several minutes as 76ers personnel looked at his knee. He eventually got up with some help and then walked off into the tunnel and into the back of the arena for what is likely to be further evaluation.
Embiid left the game with 2:37 left in the second quarter and the Sixers down 51-46. He had 18 points and five rebounds in 16 minutes to that point.
Embiid has had recurring issues with that left knee since he came back in early April. He seemed to re-injure it on April 12 in the 76ers’ penultimate regular season game and then sat out the season finale for what the team termed precautionary reasons. He has playing with a large brace on his left knee.
(Photo: Wendell Cruz / USA Today)
