Joel Embiid’s availability is the question that always hovers over him.
And it didn’t take long to become a major storyline in this second-round series.
He was out for Game 2 Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden due to right hip soreness and a right ankle sprain.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) defends the 76ers’ Joel Embiid (21) during Game 1 of the second round on May 4, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
He woke up with “a bunch of soreness,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse, and the 76ers determined after shootaround that he would not be able to play. They inserted Andre Drummond into the starting lineup in Embiid’s place.
“They’re still a good team,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “They have a lot of guys that can put the ball on the floor, attack the rim, who can shoot 3s. They still like to get out in transition. They’re a good team.”
But the Knicks were also without a big man — Mitchell Robinson was out with an illness.
The Knicks originally had a clean injury report, but Robinson was downgraded to questionable a few hours before tipoff and was considered a game-time decision.
Embiid had a nightmarish showing in the Knicks’ Game 1 rout, recording 14 points on rough 3-for-11 shooting from the field. And he was even worse defensively, as the Knicks exploited his lack of mobility by putting him in endless pick-and-rolls.
Other than Embiid, Tyrese Maxey was listed on the 76ers injury report with a right finger strain but was available for Game 2.
Embiid previously missed the end of the regular season and the first three games of the first round against the Celtics following surgery for appendicitis. He returned for the final four games of the series, in which the 76ers overcame a 3-1 deficit.
