2023-12-24 23:42:01
MIAMI (AP) — Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid will not play in Philadelphia’s Christmas night game once morest the Miami Heat following the 76ers ruled him out due to a sprained right ankle.
Embiid did not travel with the Sixers on Sunday to Miami. He was injured Friday in the win once morest Toronto.
This will be the fourth game Embiid will miss this season with the 76ers, who are third in the Eastern Conference, and fourth overall in the NBA, entering Monday with a 20-8 record. He has been on a roll in December, averaging 40.2 points and 12.6 rebounds on 61% shooting from the field through nine appearances this month.
So far this season, Embiid is averaging a league-leading 35 points per game – now on track to win his third straight scoring title. He has had at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in each of his last 13 games, the longest streak in the NBA since 1972, when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it in 16 straight games.
Embiid played most of Friday’s game once morest the Raptors following hurting his ankle trying to block a shot midway through the first quarter. At that time he had no points, he had 11 at halftime, and 20 more in the second half.
The team evaluated Embiid’s status over the weekend and determined that playing him on Monday would not be wise. He will likely rejoin for Wednesday’s game in Orlando.
The Heat will likely be without Jimmy Butler on Monday. Butler has missed Miami’s last two games with a calf strain and did not practice this Sunday, even though he appeared questionable for the nationally televised game once morest the 76ers.
Embiid’s absence will make the matchup between the Heat and the 76ers the only one of the five-game Christmas schedule that will not feature a former MVP winner. The duel between Milwaukee-New York will feature Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, the game between Denver and Golden State will feature Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets, and Stephen Curry of the Warriors; The game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics features four-time MVP LeBron James, and Phoenix’s game once morest Dallas will feature Suns forward Kevin Durant.
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