As the Philadelphia 76ers attempted to take advantage of the San Antonio Spurs‘ loss of Victor Wembanyama on Monday (April 6), the team saw its star center, Joel Embiid, deal with a setback of his own.
Embiid was seen limping at a point in the game, before having trainers work on him while he was on the bench.
There was fear from fans, who believed that Embiid’s knee might have been the issue at the time. After the matchup, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse added some clarity.
via Gina Mizell, The Philadelphia Inquirer: Nurse said Embiid twisted his ankle (not knee) right in front of the Sixers bench, and again on the defensive possession before the Sixers called timeout and took him out of the game.
Joel Embiid Dodges A Knee-Related Concern
GettyINGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 02: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers on the court against the LA Clippers in the second half at Intuit Dome on February 02, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Any sort of setback for Joel Embiid would worry the Sixers and their fans, but the knee is especially a concern, considering everything that has gone down over the past few years.
Since the start of Embiid’s career, the star big man has battled knee-related setbacks. Knee injuries were part of the reason why it took him two years to make his NBA debut.
A knee nearly three years ago is a reason why Embiid has missed so much time recently.
During the 2023-2024 NBA season, Embiid appeared in just 39 games. He received surgery on his knee during the season, but made it back in time for the playoffs. Embiid’s knee didn’t recover as he had hoped it would.
In 2024-2025, Embiid appeared in just 19 games. When he didn’t feel like his knee had recovered the way doctors expected it would, he underwent surgery a second time in under two years.
This season, Embiid has missed time due to some minor concerns regarding his knee. Soreness was the reason why he missed a handful of games.
The knee concerns are not back. Instead, Embiid dealt with an ankle issue on Monday. Nick Nurse and the 76ers don’t seem all that concerned.
The Sixers Miss A Big Opportunity
GettyBOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 22: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics after the game at TD Garden on October 22, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Embiid finished the game in San Antonio, Texas, with 39 minutes played. He shot 8-19 from the field and 16-19 from the free-throw line to score 34 points.
In addition to his scoring, Embiid logged a double-double with 12 rebounds. He also had four blocks and one assist.
The Sixers lost to the Spurs 115-102.
With that loss, the Sixers drop back to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The Toronto Raptors hold a 0.5-game lead over the Sixers for the sixth seed.
The Sixers will return to the court on Thursday, April 9, to face the Houston Rockets.
76ers Coach Makes Clear Joel Embiid Injury Statement After Spurs Loss