- Joel Embiid suffered a knee injury on Saturday after landing awkwardly
- He stood up for a spectacular dunk, but then grabbed his surgically repaired knee
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Joel Embiid suffered a knee injury on Saturday night after landing awkwardly following a spectacular dunk against the New York Knicks.
Embiid headed back 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 in bounds, threw it off the backboard to pass it to himself, got up and knocked it down with 2:49 left in the second quarter. But he immediately grabbed his left knee after landing and fell to the runway.
After the Knicks scored on the other end, the 76ers took their time and were eventually able to help Embiid again. He walked to the locker room and missed the rest of the first half, but returned to start the second.
Fortunately, he returned to the field at the start of the second half and appeared pain-free.
Joel Embiid suffered another suspected knee injury after landing awkwardly on a dunk
Embiid threw it off the backboard, stood up and slammed it down before grabbing his left knee
He returned to the field at the start of the second half and appeared pain-free
Embiid tore the meniscus in his left knee on January 30 against Golden State and underwent surgery on February 6.
He returned earlier this month to help Philadelphia reach the playoffs but was still dealing with his knee.
Embiid was listed as questionable entering the game and was not cleared to play until he completed his workout.
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart each scored 22 points and Deuce McBride led a huge effort from New York’s backups with 21 as the Knicks defeated the 76ers 111-104 in Game 1.
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart each scored 22 points as the Knicks defeated the 76ers 111-104
McBride himself outscored the 76ers with 13 points in the second quarter when Embiid had to leave.
He returned to give the 76ers the lead in the second half, but Josh Hart hit a pair of big three-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the Knicks pull out the lead.
Hart also had 13 rebounds for the Knicks, who had lost Game 1 the last three times they opened a series at home. They host Game 2 on Monday.
Embiid finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 33 points.