The Philadelphia 76ers, if not currently, might have a problem with Joel Embiid soon. Gearing up for Game 2 against the New York Knicks in MSG, Embiid put up an efficient 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block in just the first quarter. However, as the Sixers worked through the third, entering with a 4-point halftime lead, Embiid was part of another scary glimpse. Amidst that, Embiid was consistently seen tending to his knee. His knee briefly locked during a contested layup in the second quarter.

With that, it was clear that the Cameroonian big man was feeling the heat. A little later, Embiid was seen taking himself to the bench with a little under 4 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. A team medic was massaging and evaluating his knee, as Embiid simply put a towel on his head as if calling it a night.

Luckily, Embiid was cleared to play soon and entered the quarter with just 29 seconds left on the clock. His inclination to see every possible second of court action came through Philadelphia’s -5 rating in his near 3.5 minutes of absence. However, despite the green light, he was constantly seen exhausted and bothered. Joel Embiid took on the fourth with a limp in his step. From dribbling the ball to getting to his hot spots, or even running down the open floor, he was seen struggling with his knee.

The situation poses the Sixers to make a tough call on Embiid’s season. His grappling sights are similar to his surgery-triggering instances in the Golden State Warriors game. Embiid was consistently empty in his energy tank in that game, alongside taking quite a few falls.

The 76ers and Joel Embiid have a decision to make

The last thing Joel Embiid and the 76ers want is another injury. With that, the toll that is being put on Embiid’s knees and body is slowly nearing a scary sight. However, their 16-27 season record without Joel Embiid clearly indicates the lopsidedness they face on the court.

They score nearly 109 points a game without him, compared to 120.7 when he is in rotation. Moreover, his absences add more pressure on their role players, congesting their offensive options; all while hindering their paint protection.

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This brings the franchise to a crossroads. Should they continue relying heavily on their star center? Or should they give him a breather in light of his recent struggles? One way to tackle that is through limiting his minutes on the court, at least during the coming home games. However, as the Knicks grab a late-game 104-101 victory, it makes the workaround more challenging than ever.

Now, the 76ers’ fans await an update on Joel Embiid’s health alongside miracles in Games 3 and 4 at Wells Fargo Center.