Joel Embiid 'Gave Us Everything He Could' in Injury Return for 76ers vs. Knicks, Nick Nurse Says
Nick Nurse said Joel Embiid gave the Philadelphia 76ers "everything he could" when returning from injury to play the New York Knicks on Friday night in Game 3 of the second round.
Embiid contributed 18 points in 35 minutes as the visiting Knicks won 108-94 to gain a 3-0 series lead.
"I thought he gave us everything he could. I really do. I think he tried to give us everything he could tonight, and that's all he could do," Nurse said after the loss.
Embiid was sidelined for Game 2 due to right hip soreness and a right ankle sprain.
ESPN's Shams Charania and Tim Bontemps reported at the time that Embiid had been "experiencing increased soreness in his ankle and hip" despite "receiving around-the-clock treatment in an effort to play."
Embiid struggled to maintain his usual defensive dominance in his return to the lineup for Game 3. The Sixers were outscored by nine points when he was on the court Friday night.
Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy late in the regular season and was sidelined for the beginning of the playoffs. He returned four games into the first round to help the Sixers erase a 3-1 series deficit to the Boston Celtics.
He has been unable to find that same level of dominance so far in the second round, which he started out by recording a postseason-low 14 points in the Sixers' Game 1 blowout loss.
The 76ers now play with their season on the line when Game 4 tips off on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia will need more contributions from Tyrese Maxey, who finished Game 3 with 17 points, should Embiid remain limited by injury for the potential elimination game.
