Philadelphia 76ers All Star center Joel Embiid has had issues remaining healthy throughout his young career - and as the Sixers hope to make an NBA Finals push, Embiid is once again battling injuries. On Monday night, Embiid was dealing with more than his lingering knee pain.
Following the Sixers' 94-89 victory in game 2, Embiid explained to reporters, “If you’ve had the shits before, you’d know how it feels.”
According to a report by ESPN's Jackie MacMullan, Embiid has been receiving six separate knee treatments per day in an effort to stay on the court.
"If only people knew the lengths that Embiid has gone to play in these games. The care of his knee has become a 24-hour proposition, occupying his mind and his spirit. On the Saturday after the Game 4 win, Embiid tells ESPN that he undergoes six treatments a day, setting his alarm for 5 a.m. so he won't miss a session. "Normally, sleep helps me a lot," Embiid says, "but right now sleep is secondary. I've got to take care of my body. I'll sleep later."
Embiid appeared in four of the Sixers' five first-round games against the Brooklyn Nets, and he played 32 minutes on Monday as Philly evened the series with Toronto at 1-1. The 25-year old big man finished with 12 points, including a clutch bucket in the final 25 seconds to give the team a three-point cushion.
The series now shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4. Game 3 is scheduled to tipoff at 8:00pm ET on Thursday, May 2.