Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks to pass around Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
PHILADELPHIA — There is but one guarantee in Philadelphia sports: that the 76ers must slog through stretches of games — if not months, or even seasons — without Joel Embiid.
Here they go again, about to start an indefinite span without Embiid with the reigning MVP set for surgery this week to address an injury to the lateral meniscus in his left knee.
The 76ers did not say how much time Embiid was expected to miss. Philadelphia should have a clear idea on Embiid’s recovery timetable after the surgery. But there is no doubt, given the nature of the injury, that Embiid will miss a significant amount of time.
“We’ve got to try to pick off a win anywhere we can against whoever we can,” coach Nick Nurse said Monday.
READ: NBA: Lakers overcome absence of Lebron, AD with 114-105 win over Celtics
No 2nd NBA MVP for Embiid
The 76ers were 4-10 this season without Embiid entering Monday’s game against Dallas.
Embiid won’t win a second straight MVP award because the 7-footer will not meet the 65-game minimum to become eligible for major NBA honors.
Should Embiid miss a month or two, the Sixers hope they’re still in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. Entering Monday, they were 30-18 and fifth the East with two games left before Thursday’s trade deadline. The Sixers are closer in the standings to possibly having to qualify for the play-in tournament than contending for a top spot in the East.
Nurse, in his first season as coach, acknowledged the thorny path ahead.
READ: 2024 NBA All-Star lineup complete as reserves named
With Embiid gone, Maxey to step up
“Can we get the guys here to dig in and fight and give ourselves a chance to win?” Nurse asked. “We’ve got to salvage a ‘W’ somewhere along the way here.”
With Embiid sidelined, the 76ers will need first-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey to carry their offense.
Maxey already has two 50-point games this season, including a career-best 51 last Thursday at Utah. Maxey made seven 3-pointers and led the Sixers to their only win on a 1-4 trip. Tobias Harris upgrades from an oft-invisible third option to a suddenly vital scoring piece needed to keep the Sixers afloat. Harris and Maxey both started against the Mavericks.
“We need more firepower,” Nurse said.
READ: Damian Lillard cheered in return to Portland after trade to Bucks
Knee hurt during loss to Golden State
He wasn’t necessarily going to find it on a regular basis out of Danuel House Jr., Kelly Oubre Jr. and Paul Reed, who formed the rest of a lineup that doesn’t exactly stand as one worthy of a contender.
“I don’t think there’s a guy or two that we can say, OK, he’s got to take all those minutes and take all those shots,” Nurse said.
Embiid, the winner of the past two NBA scoring titles, hurt his left knee last Tuesday night in a loss at Golden State. He had already been hampered by knee injuries this season.
When healthy, Embiid has continued to perform at an MVP level. He is the NBA’s leading scorer at 35.3 points per game and is averaging 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists. He scored a franchise-record 70 points to go along with 18 rebounds on Jan. 22 in a 133-124 victory over San Antonio.
READ: NBA: Embiid scores 40 as Sixers down Nuggets
Embiid not concerned with another MVP
Embiid missed all four games on the 76ers’ holiday trip with a sprained right ankle, and they went 2-2.
“We need to find out what the other guys can do, so we can find out who’s going to be there, like, really there,” Nurse said. “This is their chance.”
Embiid said last month he wasn’t concerned about winning another MVP. He just wanted to help the 76ers win their first NBA championship since 1983.
“I feel really bad for him,” Nurse said. “He’s having a historic season. I thought everything he’s done, he’s practiced hard, he’s prepared, he’s just doing everything at a super-high level.”