Joel Embiid: 76ers Star Returns, Furthers Knee Injury During Tuesday's Loss to Warriors
Joel Embiid's return for the Philadelphia 76ers ended abruptly on Tuesday night. The star left the game early at the Chase Center, limping off in the fourth quarter due to an awkward leg injury during their 119-107 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will be absent from Thursday's game against the Utah Jazz as he undergoes additional assessment on his left knee within the next 24 hours, according to a team official speaking to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Embiid, following an injury to his left knee during Tuesday night's game against the Golden State Warriors, is expected to return to Philadelphia instead of joining the team in Utah.

Joel Embiid Injury Details

The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's 119-107 loss to the Warriors. With 4:04 remaining in the game, Embiid, facing a double-team from Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green, fell to the ground while attempting to retrieve the ball.

Kuminga subsequently fell on top of Embiid's knee, causing visible distress to the 76ers' star.

Despite eventually getting up and limping to the locker room, Embiid did not return to the game.

Embiid had recently missed the 76ers' last two games due to a knee injury but returned to the lineup on Tuesday in San Francisco.

Specifics regarding latest Joel Embiid injury are yet to be disclosed. 76ers coach Nick Nurse emphasized that the injury is unrelated to the one that kept Embiid out of the previous two games.

An MRI will be conducted to determine the severity of the new injury, according to Yahoo! Sports.

"Obviously, medical cleared him... He said he's a little rusty; he hadn't been on the court for five days, but he said he felt good [before the game]," stated Nurse.

Embiid has been ruled out for the upcoming game against the Utah Jazz, returning early to Philadelphia for further testing on his knee.

Injury's Impact on Joel Embiid's Awards and Streaks

While individual awards may be a secondary concern, Embiid's potential absence affects his candidacy for the MVP award, CBS Sports noted.

The NBA's new rule stipulates that major award winners must play a minimum of 65 games.

Having missed 12 already, Embiid could only miss five more games before being disqualified from the MVP race.

Tuesday's game against the Warriors marked the end of a remarkable streak for Embiid, as it was the first time since November 15 that he did not score at least 30 points in a game, concluding a 22-game streak.

Currently leading the league with an average of 35.3 points per game, Embiid has been a dominant force, with a franchise-record 70 points on January 22 against the San Antonio Spurs.

Embiid's health has been a recurring challenge throughout his NBA career, never completing a full 70-game season. The current focus is on ensuring his well-being for the playoffs.

The results of the upcoming MRI will provide the team with essential insights into his condition and potential return.

As the 76ers navigate this setback, their attention turns to maintaining Joel Embiid's health for the postseason while adapting to his absence in upcoming games.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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