How long is Joel Embiid out? Injury timeline, return date, latest updates on 76ers star

Tom Gatto

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How long is Joel Embiid out? Injury timeline, return date, latest updates on 76ers star image

76ers All-Star big man Joel Embiid suffered a nasty-looking knee injury Friday night against the Wizards.

He was hurt when he landed awkwardly on his left leg following a dunk in the third quarter. Embiid left the game and did not return.

Coach Doc Rivers and Sixers players expressed their concern after the game about the NBA MVP candidate's health, but no one knew whether Embiid would miss time with the injury. That mystery was cleared up Saturday when ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Embiid suffered a "deep" bone bruise but escaped more serious injury.

So what's next for Embiid? A quick rundown of what we know about the injury and news on when he may get back on the court.

What is Joel Embiid's injury?

The Sixers announced that Embiid suffered a left knee injury. An MRI on Saturday revealed no structural damage to the knee, and the injury was described as a "deep" bone bruise, according to ESPN. Friday was Embiid's first game action since he and teammate Ben Simmons were held out of the NBA All-Star Game for being in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 — their personal barber.

Embiid hyperextended his right knee Feb. 11 against the Trail Blazers but did not miss any games with that injury.

How long will Joel Embiid be out?

Philadelphia will be without Embiid for two weeks, according to ESPN.

With Embiid forced to miss time, then the Sixers would go to backups Dwight Howard and Tony Bradley. The duo produced big numbers Thursday in a win over the Bulls as Embiid remained out because of health and safety protocols. Howard and Bradley posted 32 points on 15-of-19 shooting (Bradley was 7 for 7 from the floor), 17 rebounds and five blocks in a combined 46 minutes.  

Joel Embiid stats for 2020-21 season

  • 29.9 points per game
  • 11.5 rebounds per game
  • 3.3 assists per game
  • 1.4 blocks per game
  • 1.2 steals per game
  • 3.2 turnovers per game
  • 32.6 minutes per game
  • 52.5 percent shooting
  • 42.2 percent 3-point shooting
  • 85.9 percent free throw shooting

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.