With Joel Embiid (right knee sprain) ruled out for Game 4 vs. Brooklyn, how does the outlook change for the 76ers -- in the series and overall?
Philadelphia superstar Joel Embiid has officially been ruled out for Saturday’s Game 4 (1 ET, TNT) against Brooklyn with a sprained knee. The 76ers added the All-Star center to the injury report Friday night after he was visibly limping during Philadelphia’s 102-97 victory in Game 3.
The NBA’s leading scorer in the regular season blocked a shot to protect a two-point lead with 8.8 seconds left in Thursday’s win and said after the game that he was okay. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that there is “optimism” that Embiid could return as soon as early next week.
The 76ers command a 3-0 series lead and can sweep Brooklyn with a win on Saturday.
Embiid, a two-time NBA scoring champion, has been hit by injuries in the playoffs most of his career. He suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb and an orbital fracture last year in the playoffs. He’s missed other postseason games with knee injuries and illness.
Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out for Game 4 against the Suns, leaving the Clippers again without superstar support in their playoff series with Phoenix.
Meanwhile, Clippers franchise player Kawhi Leonard has officially been ruled out for Game 4 against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday (3:30 ET, TNT). This marks the second consecutive playoff game Leonard has missed with a sprained knee.
Leonard appeared in peak form in the first two games of the Clippers’ first-round series with Phoenix, scoring 38 and 31 points, respectively. LA lost Game 3 without Leonard, 129-124, and now trails Phoenix 2-1.
He was averaging 34.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and six assists in the first two games against the Suns.
With Game 5 on Tuesday, it’s possible Leonard could return in Phoenix after having a week’s rest.
