Philadelphia 76ers' star player, Joel Embiid, found himself on the bench during a crucial fourth quarter in a tightly contested game against the Toronto Raptors, which ended in a 105-103 loss for the Sixers. Despite his reputation as a two-time NBA scoring champion, Embiid has played in just 19 of the team's 56 games this season. The Sixers now stand at 20-36, grasping at a fading chance to secure a spot in the NBA play-in tournament.
Embiid's battle with injuries has been well-documented. Last season, he played only 39 games due to a torn meniscus in his left knee and underwent surgery in early February. He acknowledged earlier this month that he hadn't had enough time to fully recover from last year's operation. Injuries have continued to hobble him throughout this season, impacting his performance on the court.
During the game against the Raptors, Embiid scored a mere 14 points in 31 minutes and missed all six of his 3-point attempts. He was notably absent in the final quarter when the Sixers staged a rally from 17 points down to take a late lead. Coach Nick Nurse explained his decision to keep Embiid on the bench, stating, "They had a good feel for the game at that point." Nurse further added, "He's giving us what he can. He's not himself, we all know that."
Embiid's current form starkly contrasts with his past performances. He was slow to get up late in the third quarter after losing the ball and hitting the court. Earlier this week, Embiid himself admitted, "The way I was playing a year ago is not the way I'm playing right now." Despite signing a lucrative 3-year, $193 million contract extension in September, Embiid has struggled to regain his dominant All-Star form.
Following the game, Embiid declined to comment on his benching. Coach Nurse expressed understanding and support for Embiid's situation, stating, "He's not certainly the guy we're used to seeing play at a super-high level. I commend him for giving us what he can."
Embiid's journey this season has been challenging. After recovering from surgery, he returned in early April and contributed to the Sixers' playoff run before winning a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team last summer. However, his current state indicates that the "problem" in his left knee needs addressing for him to return to peak performance.
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