The Philadelphia 76ers are three games down in their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks. History isn’t on their side as a 3-0 deficit has never been turned around since the NBA started the best-of-seven series.
A 108-94 loss at home seems to have been the nail in the coffin. However, there is still a slim chance of mounting a comeback starting with Game 4 tonight.
The good news coming from the Sixers is they will enter the game in full health following the latest news of star center Joel Embiid.
76ers Reveal Joel Embiid Game 4 Status
Embiid has been on and off throughout this postseason. He did play 35 minutes of Game 3 action on Friday but that was on the back of missing Game 2. He missed the first three games of the first round as well recovering from an appendectomy surgery he had towards the end of the regular season.
GettyPhiladelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid missed Game 2 against the New York Knicks with ankle and hip injuries.
Ahead of tonight’s encounter, the Sixers announced Embiid will play, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He was initially listed as probable.
Any fear of missing the crucial win-or-go-home Game 4 for Philadelphia seems to have been eased.
The Sixers will hope for a much better version of Embiid than in Games 1 and 3 where he scored 14 and 18 points respectively.
It has been such a sort of season for Embiid. The 32-year-old superstar played only 38 games in the regular season meaning it was now a third consecutive year without reaching the 40-game mark.
Sixers Aiming To Save Their Season
The Sixers have all to do in Game 4 and Embiid’s availability will be refreshing. His return in the first round was a major reason why they overturned a 3-1 series deficit against the No. 2 Boston Celtics.
Embiid averaged 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists in the four games he played in the first round. His experience and edge on both ends of the floor were a headache to the Celtics who entered as heavy favorites. Boston was limited to below 100 points in Games 5 and 6 and managed just 100 in the decisive Game 7.
Now Embiid and the Sixers will have to do it being 3-0 down against the Knicks. New York is aiming to go one better than it did in last year’s conference semis and is motivated.
GettyPhiladelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid dribbles the ball in a game against the Knicks. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Embiid and the Sixers are still pegged in their second-round curse and they will have to do what no other team has done before in order to progress to the conference finals for the first time since 2001.
Game 4 tips off tonight at the Xfinity Mobile Arena with Philadelphia aiming to avoid a series sweep.
76ers Announce Final Decision on Joel Embiid Game 4 Status