Nurse Insists ‘No Setback’ for Embiid
Embiid To Be Sidelined Indefinitely With Foot Injury
Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse insists there has been "no setback" for Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, who is set to miss the remainder of the regular season with a foot injury. In a press conference on Monday, Nurse addressed concerns about Embiid's health and the potential impact of his absence on the Sixers' playoff chances.
Embiid, a four-time All-Star and the 2021 NBA scoring champion, suffered a left foot sprain in Friday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. An MRI revealed a ligament tear, and the 76ers announced on Sunday that he would be out indefinitely. Embiid previously missed 10 games in January with a right foot sprain but was able to play through the pain.
Embiid's Absence Raises Questions About Sixers' Playoff Hopes
The Sixers are currently 39-19, good for third place in the Eastern Conference. However, Embiid's absence is a major blow to their title hopes. He is averaging 33.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this season and is considered one of the best players in the NBA.
Without Embiid, the Sixers will rely on James Harden and Tyrese Maxey to lead the offense. Harden is a seven-time All-Star and the 2018 NBA MVP, while Maxey has emerged as a rising star in his third season. However, neither player has the same size or defensive presence as Embiid.
Nursey Remains Optimistic About Sixers' Chances
Despite the challenges they face, Nurse remains optimistic about the Sixers' chances of making a deep playoff run. He praised the team's depth and experience and said he believes they can overcome Embiid's absence.
"We're going to miss Joel, but we have a lot of talented players on this team," Nurse said. "We've shown that we can win without him, and I'm confident that we can continue to do so. We're not going to make any excuses. We're going to go out there and compete, and we're going to try to win a championship."
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