76ers' Joel Embiid Out at Least 1 Week After Shoulder Injury Diagnosed as Sprain
February 28, 2020
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will be re-evaluated in one week after being diagnosed with a sprain in his left shoulder.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported there is "no significant structural damage" to the shoulder. Embiid's return will be dependent on his symptoms, and he will be re-evaluated to establish a more firm timetable in a week.
The Sixers are already without Ben Simmons, who will be re-evaluated in two weeks after suffering a nerve impingement in his back, per Charania.
Embiid went down after playing only eight minutes in Wednesday's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"It's a painfully obvious bind," Sixers coach Brett Brown told reporters ahead of Thursday's game against the New York Knicks. "We're missing two All-Stars. You yank that from the team and it's painful."
Al Horford moved into the center spot in Embiid's place. Glenn Robinson III also joined the starting lineup, as the Sixers managed a 115-106 victory without their two stars.
The timeframe for Embiid's injury makes it likely he misses Philly's entire four-game Western Conference road trip, which begins Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Sixers play the Clippers and Lakers back-to-back before heading to Sacramento and Golden State.
Philadelphia's 9-21 road record is currently the worst of any team in the playoff spots. With games upcoming against a pair of West favorites and a Warriors team that will likely have Steph Curry back in the lineup, odds are those numbers aren't improving anytime soon.
