PHILADELPHIA – It’s not a surprise that Joel Embiid is playing for the 76ers in Game 4 against the Knicks on Sunday afternoon.
After all, it’s the playoffs, and the Sixers entered the game down 2-1 in the Eastern Conference playoff series.
But Embiid is dealing with a knee injury after returning recently after missing more than two months to have surgery. Embiid had to leave Game 1 in the second quarter when he tweaked the knee. He returned for the second half, but it was clearly bothering him.
Then it was revealed after the Sixers’ win in Game 3, when Embiid scored 50 points, that the Sixers’ 7-foot-2 center is also dealing with Bell’s Palsey, a minor type of facial paralysis that causes sudden weakness on one side of the face.
Still, Embiid has averaged 37.7 points in 38.7 minutes per game through the first three games of this series.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse was asked before the game, which malady is bothering Embiid more.
“He doesn’t really say,” Nurse said. “Usually, one day he gives me one answer, the next day he gives me another. The (maladies) usually improve from each day a little bit. He doesn’t talk about it. He really talks about adjustment and game plan and things we can do better.”
If either malady is bothering Embiid, it wasn’t apparent in the first quarter when the Sixers took a 12-point lead before ending the period with a 27-17 lead.
Embiid played the entire quarter with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. For his career, Embiid has 7 triple-doubles, including two this season.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 12 points.
Who is in the Sixers starting lineup?
The Sixers are starting Embiid at center, Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre at forward, and Kyle Lowry and Tyrese Maxey at guard.
The Knicks are starting Josh Hart and OG Anunoby at forward, Isaiah Hartenstein at center, and Delaware native Donte DiVincenzo and Jalen Brunson at guard.
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