As we relayed on Monday evening, Sixers center Joel Embiid left Game 4 vs. Washington due to right knee soreness after playing just 11 minutes. After the game, head coach Doc Rivers said that Embiid would undergo an MRI on the injured knee on Tuesday, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Rivers was unsure whether Embiid would be available for Game 5 on Wednesday.
While the Sixers will need a healthy Embiid to make a serious run at the NBA Finals, the club is confident that it can win one more game against the Wizards and advance to the second round with or without its All-Star center.
“We’re going to need him to be the last team standing, to win,” Sixers guard Danny Green said, per Windhorst. “It doesn’t mean we can’t win the next game without him.”
Here are a few more injury-related notes from around the NBA:
- Wizards forward Davis Bertans was having his best game of the playoffs on Monday before a right calf strain forced him to exit the game early. It’s the same injury that sidelined him for two weeks in March, according to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington, who reports that Bertans will undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
- The Celtics have listed Kemba Walker (left knee bone bruise) and Robert Williams (left ankle sprain) as doubtful for Game 5 on Tuesday. If Walker and Williams don’t play in tonight’s game, their seasons may be over, since Boston is on the brink of elimination, down 3-1 to Brooklyn.
- Suns guard Chris Paul (right shoulder contusion) “didn’t do a ton” at Monday’s practice, according to head coach Monty Williams, but it was a light day of work in general for the team (Twitter link via Gina Mizell). Paul is listed as probable for Game 5 on Tuesday and seems very likely to suit up.
- In case you missed it, All-Star Lakers big man Anthony Davis (left groin strain) is considered unlikely to be available for Game 5 vs. Phoenix. He’s officially listed as questionable.
IMO
Davis and Embiid won’t play Game 5
Unlike Paul and Luka play with injury
I saw that Bertans is done for the season (4-6 weeks or end of season, whichever comes first; my bet is on the latter). That puts a damper on their chances to extend the series, even if Embiid is out.
Who the hell is doing the Embiid MRI, the DMV? Taking forever
Great call and top decision making getting rid of Theis (postseason wise) for unreliable libra headcase Bobby (Booshay) Williams and 1 legged Kemba for Terry “Rozay” over the last couple of seasons. Seems to really be working out for the GM and staff. SARCASM.
Poor choices all around, which along with Jaylen Brown, gives the C’s no shot at the Title this season.
Lol SARCASM I thought you were praising the GM but then you said that very clever very very clever