NEW YORK, May 6, 2026, 19:07 EDT
- Joel Embiid will miss Game 2, sidelined by injuries to his right ankle and hip.
- New York holds a 1-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinal following a 137-98 blowout.
- With Tyrese Maxey and Paul George taking on bigger roles, Philadelphia doesn’t have much room to slip up.
Philadelphia will be missing Joel Embiid for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, with the former MVP sidelined after a rough 39-point defeat at Madison Square Garden. Reuters said Embiid skipped the morning shootaround, citing more soreness in both his ankle and hip.
Philadelphia faces tough timing here. Down 1-0, the 76ers head into Game 2 at 7 p.m. ET in New York, with Game 3 set for Friday back in Philly, per Yahoo Sports’ streaming preview.
Embiid being out is significant—New York’s offense barely broke a sweat in Game 1. The Knicks routed Philly 137-98 behind Jalen Brunson, who dropped 35, and ended up shooting a blistering 74.4% effective field goal percentage. That stat, which weights threes more heavily, is the third-best ever for a playoff game, per NBA.com.
Brunson set the tone early, pouring in 27 of his 35 points before halftime. OG Anunoby chipped in 18 on near-perfect 7-of-8 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges had 17 apiece, and New York’s edge swelled from 10 to 23 by the break.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse told reporters ahead of Game 2 that Embiid “woke up with a bunch of soreness,” got treatment during shootaround, and was ultimately ruled out. Nurse described Embiid as “really disappointed” and reiterated that the center is still considered day to day. NBC Sports Philadelphia
The 76ers initially put Embiid on the injury report as probable, citing just an ankle problem. Later, they tacked on hip soreness and scratched him about six hours ahead of tipoff. According to NBA.com, Embiid managed 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting in 25 minutes during Game 1, as the Knicks targeted his limited movement.
For Game 2 in Philadelphia, the 76ers rolled out Adem Bona at center, alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Paul George, and Kelly Oubre Jr. The Knicks didn’t change what worked last time—Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns started again, sticking with the same group that dominated the Sixers two nights ago.
The competitive backdrop is tricky for both teams. Philadelphia managed to shock Boston in a seven-game opening round, clawing back from a 3-1 series hole. New York, though, faced Atlanta in a much quicker first round and has kept momentum going on its home court.
Brunson pointed out New York’s recent hot streak wasn’t just about racking up lopsided scores. “Yes, it’s turned into obviously big wins, but those attention to detail things are going to help us in the close ones as well,” he said after Game 1. ESPN
New York faces a tough benchmark after Game 1. The Knicks went 19-of-37 from deep, a shooting display that helped produce what NBC Sports Philadelphia called one of the 76ers’ worst-ever playoff defeats. That kind of blowout can throw off a series read if Philadelphia manages to tweak its defense.
But Embiid’s situation shifts things right away. According to Hoops Rumors, which referenced The Athletic’s coverage, Nurse is calling Embiid day to day. That leaves Philadelphia preparing for Game 2 with no certainty on when their top inside threat and defensive leader might return.
The Knicks’ job is straightforward enough: force Philadelphia to contain Brunson without sagging too far, keep Towns engaged against a shorter lineup, and lock things down at Madison Square Garden before the series shifts. For the 76ers, this is about gutting it out—survival matters more than aesthetics.
