MIAMI _ The 76ers said Wednesday before their game against the Miami Heat that Joel Embiid is done for the season.
Monday's MRI scan has revealed the rookie center's left-knee bone bruise has "improved significantly." However, it showed the meniscus tear is the more pronounced of the two injuries.
"We will continue to work with leading specialists to gather additional information through clinical examination and sequential testing to determine the best course of action and next steps," Sixers co-medical director Dr. Jonathan Glashow said in a press release. Glashow is the co-chief of Sports Medicine Orthopedics at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center.
One would assume that the next step is to have surgery to repair the torn meniscus. This news is far different from what the Sixers said when news broke on Feb. 11 that Embiid had a torn meniscus. The team said his was a slight tear that wouldn't require surgery.
"Our primary objective and focus remains to protect his long-term health and ability to perform on the basketball court," Sixers president of basketball operation Bryan Colangelo said in a statement. "As our medical team and performance staff continue their diligence in the evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of Joel's injury, we will provide any pertinent updates when available."
Embiid has been able to play in only 31 games since the Sixers selected him third overall in the 2014 NBA draft.
Wednesday's news comes two days after the team said he would be sidelined indefinitely because of the knee. That's because he was still experiencing swelling and soreness in the knee after practices. The center had another MRI on Monday afternoon.
He has missed 14 consecutive games and 17 of 18 after suffering a bone bruise on Jan. 20. An MRI exam shortly afterward revealed that he also had the torn meniscus.
So far, Embiid has missed 28 games this season because of rest or injuries. He was also sidelined the previous two seasons after surgeries to the navicular bone in his right foot.
Fearful of putting too much stress on the foot, the Sixers formulated a plan not to play him on back-to-back nights. And when he did play, they restricted his minutes.
However, his season took a turn for the worst in the third quarter of the Jan. 20 home game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Embiid took a power dribble past Mason Plumlee before dunking the ball. His left knee buckled backward as he landed. After going to the locker room, Embiid returned in the fourth quarter. However, he came down gingerly after a basket early in the quarter and exited for good with 8 minutes, 8 seconds left.
After missing the next three games, Embiid finished with a career-high 32 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, two blocks and five turnovers in an ESPN-televised loss to the Houston Rockets on Jan. 27.
He informed the team that he had been experiencing knee soreness during the game. It turned out to be his last game of the season.
