![Joel Embiid's injury appears worse than originally reported, with Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reporting Monday that Embiid has actually suffered a sprained LCL. [Twitter/Screenshot/Public — @malika_andrews]](https://images.dailycaller.com/image/width=960,height=411,fit=cover,f=auto/https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/fotor_2023-4-25_11_11_16-e1682435518604.jpg "Joel Embiid's injury appears worse than originally reported, with Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reporting Monday that Embiid has actually suffered a sprained LCL. [Twitter/Screenshot/Public — @malika_andrews]")
Ouch … what a blow for Philly.
Everybody is asking the same question: “When will Joel Embiid be back?”
And the incredible amount of curiosity is justified, considering Embiid might be the NBA MVP this season and how important he is to the Philadelphia 76ers‘ championship run.
Embiid missed Saturday’s sweep-sealing victory against the Brooklyn Nets due to a right knee sprain, with Sixers head coach Doc Rivers putting the All-Star center’s chances of playing at the beginning of Round 2 at “probably 50 percent, at best.”
Well, the injury appears to be worse than originally reported. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported Monday on NBA Today that Embiid actually suffered a sprained LCL in his right knee. He will be re-evaluated later this week.
.@ramonashelburne with the latest on Joel Embiid’s status from NBA Today: pic.twitter.com/3wSAYyI1t1
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) April 24, 2023
John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia confirmed the report Tuesday morning.
Source confirms Joel Embiid has a sprained LCL. He may have to wear a brace for the knee when he returns. There is some hope that he can play towards the beginning of the Sixers second round series but he will be playing through a knee injury@ramonashelburne was first pic.twitter.com/JxirjN0vjA
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 25, 2023
With the Boston Celtics being up 3-1 on the Atlanta Hawks, it’s looking like the Philadelphia 76ers will play the C’s in the second round.
So, to answer the question: are the Philadelphia 76ers doomed if this Embiid injury is long-lasting?
You better believe they are. (RELATED: New York Knicks’ Josh Hart Loses 3-Point Contest To JJ Redick’s 8-Year-Old Son)
I’m just going to be blunt: If Philly doesn’t have Embiid, they’re screwed. There’s no chance that the Sixers beat the Celtics without Embiid.
And that’s unfortunately how the cookie crumbles for the City of Brotherly Love.