Joel Embiid could miss his second consecutive playoff game on Saturday.
The 76ers star's knee soreness has caused him to be listed as doubtful for Game 4 against the Nets, according to an NBC Sports report.
Before last game, Joel Embiid said his knee is getting better 'slowly but surely,' but that there is a balance between not doing too much & not doing too little.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) April 19, 2019
After sitting Game 3, Embiid is listed as doubtful for Game 4.
Embiid missed 14 of Philadelphia's last 24 regular season games in hopes of improving the condition of his knee. But according to Embiid, the pain has gotten worse.
Despite not being 100 percent, the big man is averaging 22.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game in two games vs. the Nets. He missed his first game of the postseason on Thursday, when the 76ers claimed a 131-115 victory over the Nets in Brooklyn.
In Embiid's absence, Ben Simmons erupted for a career night. Simmons posted a postseason career-high 31 points, four rebounds and nine assists with Greg Monroe filling in for Embiid in the post.
Tobias Harris, who's had a relatively quiet series, totaled 29 points while JJ Redick chipped in with 26.
Heads turned when the 76ers were upset by the Nets in Game 1, but now their offensive versatility is baring its teeth. It's not ideal, but Philadelphia could prove it can be a serious threat, even without the physically imposing Embiid wreaking havoc on both ends.
If Philadelphia can steal another game in Brooklyn, it'll have a chance to shut the series down in the Wells Fargo Center in Game 5. Some extra rest could prove to be beneficial for Embiid and the rest of the team.