In the first quarter of Game 4 between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Washington Wizards, Sixers star Joel Embiid left the game with a knee injury. Embiid did not return to this game and the Wizards closed out Game 4 with a win and Philadelphia will head into Game 5 without Embiid.
Embiid has been listed as Day to day and it is unknown if the 76ers will have Joel Embiid this weekend, if needed against the Wizards. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Embiid will not need surgery right away but will manage the injury with physical therapy and other therapy to help maintain the injury. There is the risk of further tearing the knee but the Sixers medical staff feels comfortable managing Embiid's injury day to day.
The ideal situation for the Philadelphia 76ers is for the team to close out the series in Game 5 against the Wizards. This will take pressure off Embiid's return to the court. Another helping hand would be for the Hawks and Knicks series to go to seven games. By doing this, it will give Embiid an extra few days to rest before heading into the next series. Anything to help give Embiid rest will help to manage his injury.
With Joel Embiid out, the 76ers will call on Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons to step up in his place. This may not be the issue in this series. A major issue the 76ers will face is the size they now lack. They will have Dwight Howard to man the paint but Philly has found themselves taking him out down the stretch because of his inability to convert at the line and stay out of foul trouble. With that being said, expect the 76ers to go small ball. An unfortunate advantage for the 76ers in Game 5 against Washington will be the injury absence of Davis Bertans for the Wizards. Washington has had an issue all season with their big men suffering injuries. If the Sixers were to go small, it may not be that big of a size advantage in their matchup.
The critics have been calling for Ben Simmons to step up, now is his time to silence the critics. His defense will show up, but it is time for him to take over the offense in every way possible.