Before the Sixers fans can breathe a sigh of relief at the possibility of going to Game 7 despite a 3-0 lead, they gasp at the news that Joel Embiid is out indefinitely with a right orbital fracture and a slight concussion. The injury, thanks to Pascal Shiakam’s elbow, late in Toronto’s sharp crash by Philly on Thursday, could not have happened at a worse time for the MVP candidate, who also plays with a torn ligament in his thumb. Now, teammate James Harden must keep the 76ers alive against No. 1 Miami in the second round until the big man returns. This is not Embiid’s first orbital fracture either. He broke his left arm in the 2017-18 season and needed surgery, forcing him to miss three weeks. He lost the first two games of these playoffs, which also came against the Heat. Embiid was wearing a mask then and I would not be surprised if he tried to play it, if it was even a small chance. The guy has already chosen to postpone surgery, so wearing a mask and hoping it will be enough to keep an eye on her nostrils seems like a sensible choice. But again, this is if it is even an option. The phrase “I can not take a break” comes to mind, but all Embiid seems to do is enter the playoffs. Last season, he played with a torn meniscus and last year, Bubble season, he suffered an ankle injury during a first-round retirement against the Celtics. The only season that was healthy in the playoffs, according to its volatile standards, was in 2019, when Kawhi Leonard famously hit the quadruple buzzer beater in the 7th game to send Philly home. As someone who loves basketball and would vote for Embiid for MVP, if they gave me a ballot, it’s good that it happened. He had a crazy regular season and looked like Shaq one step behind to start the playoffs. And, in general, the post-NBA season without stars never ceases to be discouraging. Who knows how healthy Devin Booker is, Khris Middleton is out for the Bucks-Celtics series, obviously Jaylen Brown’s hamstring is grumbling to him now? Who has an orbital bone that can be borrowed from Embiid for a few weeks? G / O Media may receive a commission Harden supporters, if I guess there are others left but the Sixers and Daryl Murray, will now be able to see the Beards try to go one-on-five against a team that just beheaded the head of a snake led by Trae. Yang with relative ease. Like it or not, we’re going to do the James Harden reality tour. He is arguably the best player on the pitch now that Embiid is out, but we have not seen this version of Harden since he left Houston. Button… or avert your eyes.
Ja Morant and the Grizzlies move on, Tee Morant wins bragging rights over KAT Sr.
The last row of the first round ended on Friday night, as Minnesota took another lead late, prevailing 40-22 in the last period. It was the third time in this series that the Wolves entered the fourth quarter with a double-digit lead and lost. Memphis now face Golden State in a rematch of last year’s Grizzlies win. The match is fun as both teams are healthy and the depth, athleticism, ability, game, shots and stars are great. (Please, basketball gods, give us seven games.) The real winner from last night was Tee Morant, who had a consistent and good-natured feud with Karl Anthony Towns Sr. during the first round. After the game, Tee put KAT Sr. to get his son’s shirt. I love energy, Tee, but there’s no way Ja’s jersey will fit Big KAT.
