Joel Embiid Out for Game 2 With Ankle and Hip Injuries, 76ers Scrambling Without Their Star

The Philadelphia 76ers just got worse news ahead of Game 2 against the New York Knicks. Joel Embiid, their franchise centerpiece, has been ruled out due to ankle and hip injuries after initially being listed as probable. The team announced it Wednesday afternoon, and yeah, this is a huge blow when you're already down 1-0 in the series.

What Happened to Embiid

Embiid couldn't even make it through shootaround Wednesday morning. Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that he experienced increased soreness in both his ankle and hip, forcing the 76ers to shut him down. The former league MVP had been getting around-the-clock treatment trying to will his way onto the court, but the body said no. Sometimes treatment can only do so much when you're dealing with multiple injuries at once.

The Context Makes This Worse

This isn't just bad timing, it's a gut punch. The seventh-seeded 76ers already took a blowout loss to the second-seeded Knicks in the series opener at Madison Square Garden. They needed Embiid in Game 2 to have any shot at clawing back into this thing.

And Embiid was playing at an MVP level coming into the playoffs. After missing the first three games of their first-round series against Boston because of an appendectomy, he came back and absolutely dominated the final four games. He averaged 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists, and punctuated the series with 34 points and 12 rebounds Saturday to help the 76ers complete the 14th comeback from a 3-1 deficit in NBA history. That's a seven-time All-Star at his best.

Now the 76ers have to figure out how to stay alive without him. Game 2 tips off soon, and Philadelphia's season just got a whole lot harder to save.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.