76ers full sweep of Nets to advance to convention semifinals, however Joel Embiid’s well being a looming concern

No Joel Embiid? No drawback, at the least for one recreation. With out their star heart who was sidelined with a knee harm, the Philadelphia 76ers have been capable of pull out a 96-88 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in Sport 4 on Sunday to finish the collection sweep and advance to the Japanese Convention semifinals for the fifth time within the final six years. The collection sweep was Philadelphia’s first since 1991, and the primary in a seven-game collection since 1985. 

Tobias Harris led the best way for Philadelphia in Embiid’s absence. He set the tone for the group early on along with his aggression, and he continued to give you large buckets all through the sport. He capped off a stable particular person collection with 25 factors and 12 rebounds within the closeout win. James Harden (17 factors, 11 assists) and Paul Reed (10 factors, 15 rebounds) each turned in double-doubles, and Tyrese Maxey (16 factors, eight rebounds) and De’Anthony Melton (15 factors off of the bench) each hit some large buckets for Philly. 

Spencer Dinwiddie led Brooklyn with 20 factors and 6 assists, whereas Nic Claxton was capable of benefit from Embiid’s absence and be simpler than he was within the earlier three video games. He completed with 19 factors and 12 rebounds. Their mixed manufacturing wasn’t sufficient to increase Brooklyn’s marketing campaign, and the Nets now enter an offseason of uncertainty. 

That feeling of uncertainty is not unique to Brooklyn, although, because the Sixers now have to fret concerning the severity of Embiid’s newest ailment, and the way lengthy it might probably preserve him sidelined. Certain, the 76ers have been capable of shut out an inferior Brooklyn group with out Embiid, however they don’t seem to be going to have the ability to make any form of an actual run with out the large man’s companies. That is not a secret to anybody. 

Sadly for Philadelphia, postseason accidents to Embiid have turn into a theme in recent times. He handled a meniscus tear in 2021 that saved him sidelined for the closeout recreation within the group’s first spherical collection in opposition to the Washington Wizards. Like on Saturday, the Sixers have been capable of shut out the collection in opposition to Washington with out Embiid, who then performed by means of the harm within the subsequent spherical in opposition to Atlanta. 

Final season, Embiid suffered a concussion and orbital bone fracture through the first spherical in opposition to Toronto which prompted him to overlook the primary two video games of the next collection in opposition to Miami. Unsurprisingly, the Sixers dropped each of these video games they usually went on to lose the collection 4-2. Had Embiid been obtainable for these two video games, the collection may need turned out in another way. 

The hope this time round is that Embiid will not must miss any time within the second spherical. Simply lacking a recreation or two might swing a complete collection, identical to it did final season in opposition to the Warmth. The Sixers have a deeper and extra well-rounded group than they’ve in recent times, however they don’t seem to be constructed to resist an prolonged absence from the MVP favourite. 

When requested after the sport what the chances have been that Embiid could be prepared for the beginning of the second spherical, Doc Rivers replied “50 p.c, at greatest.” That does not sound excellent, however Doc additionally is not an precise physician, so who is aware of? The excellent news for the Sixers is that they did their half and took care of enterprise in opposition to Brooklyn with a view to maximize their relaxation time between rounds. Now they only must hope that the collection between Boston and Atlanta stretches on so long as doable.