PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Although the Sixers are going to be without their MVP candidate for at least the next couple of weeks, they have no intention of relinquishing their slim lead on first place in the Eastern Conference.
Friday night in the 76ers' 127-101 victory at the Washington Wizards — Joel Embiid’s first game back from quarantining after coming in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 — he landed awkwardly after a slam dunk, hyperextending his left knee, causing obvious pain.
“Everyone’s devastated,” Ben Simmons said, “but we’re fortunate it wasn’t anything crazier than what it is.”
Fortunately, Embiid was able to walk off on his own, and what seemed to be a very serious knee injury turned out to be a bone bruise that the Sixers announced Saturday will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks.
The Sixers and their fans, while obviously disappointed, were relieved it wasn’t worse.
They had no problem blowing out the San Antonio Spurs 134-99 Sunday night at Wells Fargo Center, the first time this season that they could host live fans.
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The Sixers are 3-0 since the All-Star break — having easily defeated the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards, in addition to the Spurs. In the first game, they were without Embiid and Simmons because both players were required to quarantine for seven days after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Simmons needed to miss the Washington game too because his quarantine started after Embiid's, but he returned for the win over the Spurs.
So, the Sixers have won three games — two of them without Embiid, two of them without Simmons and one of them with neither. But, the Sixers schedule doesn’t get any easier coming up.
Tuesday night they will host a much-improved New York Knicks. Then Wednesday, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks come to town.
After the Sixers host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, they will embark on a six-game road trip through April 1, with four of those games on the West Coast, and three of them against some of the elite western teams.
“We got to win. We got to hold it down. We have all the pieces to win … Hopefully Jo rests up, and by the time he gets back, we’re still rolling,” Simmons said.
“With Joel being out for some time, it’s just on us to really find different things and make our chemistry even stronger until he comes back,” Tobias Harris said.
Heading into Monday night, Milwaukee sits third in the Eastern Conference, 2 1/2 games behind the first place Sixers. The Brooklyn Nets are only one game back.
“We’re competing for a championship. This isn’t a team that’s just trying to make the playoffs,” Simmons said. “We want to hold the first seed and a win a championship. We know what it takes. We got all the pieces. Everyone just needs to stay locked in.”