Joel Embiid to be out for longer with injured meniscus in left knee

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will be sidelined due to an injured lateral meniscus in his left knee, causing him to miss games at least through the upcoming weekend. Initially set to sit out Thursday night’s game against Utah, Embiid’s absence extends to include Saturday’s matchup against Brooklyn.

The injury occurred during a Tuesday night game against the Golden State Warriors when Jonathan Kuminga fell on Embiid’s left leg. Following the incident, Embiid underwent an MRI, revealing the extent of the injury, and the 76ers are currently in the process of finalizing a treatment plan.

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This setback comes as Embiid was making a return to action after dealing with a left knee issue that prevented him from playing in the games on Saturday at Denver and Monday at Portland. These missed games, coupled with the current injury, have put his eligibility for a second consecutive MVP award in jeopardy, given the new collective bargaining agreement’s requirement for players to participate in 65 regular-season games for awards like MVP or All-NBA teams. Embiid has already missed 12 games this season.