The Nets weren’t helped by the NBA on Friday, but Mother Nature certainly was.
Joel Embiid, the front-runner for MVP in Philadelphia, is expected to miss Saturday’s Game 4 of their first-round playoff series due to a sprained right knee, according to an MRI, which was revealed on Friday night, per ESPN.
According to the report, the 76ers are hoping that Embiid will be able to return early next week.
The center avoided a suspension on Friday when the NBA decided not to upgrade the flagrant 1 foul he committed against Nic Claxton early in Game 3 to a flagrant 2, despite the center dominating the undersized Nets and leading the Sixers to a 3-0 lead in the series.
Joel Embiid will not play in the Nets vs. 76ers Game 4 on Saturday.
When the two got tangled under the basket and the Nets center was stepping over Claxton, Embiid fell to the court and kicked him.
Later in the game on Thursday, the Nets did get lucky when James Harden of Philadelphia was sent off for hitting Royce O’Neale, according to an unclear call.
The Nets and Sixers continued to be at odds prior to the league’s decision and Embiid’s health update on Friday.
Cam Johnson remarked, “I don’t really get it,” in reference to Embiid’s decision to remain in Game 3.
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Johnson remarked, “I thought precedent was set just a day or two ago,” alluding to Draymond Green of the Warriors being benched earlier this week for stomping on Domantas Sabonis of the Kings’ chest. “I prefer not to engage in it as I d
I’m not sure what I can and cannot say, but I believed that to be a definite one.
Head coach of the Nets, Jacque Vaughn, stood by his remarks from Thursday, stating that he had “never seen” a player continue to play after “intentionally” kicking a player in that area.
“I am aware that my position on the Embiid play hasn’t changed,” Vaughn declared on Friday. It is identical to [Thursday]. I’m interested in knowing the league’s response. I’ll hold off on hearing it. I spent [Thursday] night watching the movie and preparing [the team] for Saturday’s victory.
Unsurprisingly, Doc Rivers, the head coach of the 76ers, felt differently than Vaughn did about Embiid’s situation.
“We have a problem in this league if we’re going to start punishing the retaliators instead of the instigators. And as much as I love Jacque, I can’t believe we have coaches advocating for guys not to play,” Rivers said to reporters. “I think that’s just insane.”
The Nets’ defense has struggled with Joel Embiid during their first-round series.
The Nets’ defense has struggled with Joel Embiid during their first-round series.
Though Harden had to be substituted in the final seconds of the game, Charles Wenzelberg Embiid made multiple plays on Thursday night to help tip the odds in Philadelphia’s favor.during the third quarter.
Harden’s dismissal, according to Dorian Finney-Smith, was “just a makeup call a little bit.”
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Finney-Smith stated, “I don’t think James’ [foul] was as serious as Joel’s.” “It’s not for me to decide.”
Rivers admitted that Embiid’s play could have gone “either way,” but he called Harden’s ejection on Friday “a joke.”
Embiid’s performance against Claxton was deemed by Johnson as “excessive, unnatural, and not basketball-like.” I believe it struck all of those, but apparently not.
Additionally, he stated that the Nets were not seeking assistance from the league in their efforts to win Game 4.
