Philadelphia 76ers’ standout player, Joel Embiid, was unexpectedly removed from the lineup for the game against the Denver Nuggets due to a knee-related issue.

Joel Embiid, the key player for the Philadelphia 76ers, was unexpectedly absent in Saturday afternoon’s game against the Denver Nuggets, resulting in a 111-105 loss. The reason for his absence was left knee soreness. The matchup also featured a face-off with MVP contender Nikola Jokic.

Before Saturday’s game, Joel Embiid did his regular warmup, but the team’s medical staff wasn’t happy with how he was moving. So, they decided it was safer for him not to play. Embiid had a large wrap on his knee before the game. Coach Nick Nurse mentioned they only found out about 20-25 minutes before the game that Embiid couldn’t play because the medical team was concerned about what they saw during his warmup.

Joel Embiid sat out three games earlier this month due to his knee issue. He faced more trouble with his knee in Thursday’s game against the Indiana Pacers. However, it’s still uncertain how many additional games he might miss because of this injury.

Coach Nurse mentioned that they will assess Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey (dealing with an ankle issue), and Tobias Harris (who is unwell) again on Sunday. This evaluation is ahead of their Monday game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Philadelphia is set to face Golden State on Tuesday night and will wrap up their five-game road trip in Utah on Thursday night.

“Joel felt good after the San Antonio game,” Nurse mentioned. “But when we went to Indiana, he didn’t move as well, and that worried me a bit.”Again, it’s not something really big, but they’re always checking for any swelling or issues and trying to fix it to get him back playing soon.”

Joel Embiid didn’t play on Saturday, and what made it surprising was that he wasn’t listed on the injury report before the game. Coach Nurse mentioned that even though Embiid seemed limited in his movements on Thursday against the Pacers, there was no prior notice of him not playing on Saturday.

The unexpected decision for Joel Embiid not to play, especially when he wasn’t mentioned on the injury report, might prompt the NBA to investigate why he didn’t play and why he wasn’t on the injury report. In a similar situation last season, the Miami Heat faced a $25,000 fine when Jimmy Butler was scratched due to a back issue without being on the injury report. The league fined them for “failing to comply with league policies governing injury reporting.”

Nuggets coach Michael Malone thinks there might be an investigation into why Joel Embiid was suddenly unable to play. Malone said it’s tough when a player is expected to play, and then at the last minute, they’re out. He mentioned that Embiid hurt his knee in the Indiana game, but it’s challenging for teams preparing to face him. Despite this, Joel Embiid has not played at Ball Arena for four straight seasons.

Joel Embiid missed a game in March 2021 due to a knee issue, another one in November 2021 because of COVID-19, and then sat out in March 2023 with a calf problem.

He’s been frequently absent from games in Denver in the past few seasons, including a significant match late in the 2022-23 season when there was a debate about who should be MVP. Ultimately, Embiid won his first MVP, surpassing Jokic, who was aiming for a third consecutive win.

In Denver, fans started chanting “Where’s Embiid at?” during the game because he didn’t play. They chanted again when he appeared on the bench later, and after he acknowledged them, they booed.

Coach Nurse expressed disappointment, saying it’s tough for fans who wanted to see star players like Embiid in action. He mentioned that Embiid really wanted to play, but the medical team decided he wasn’t fit for the game. It’s unfortunate for the fans.

Joel Embiid’s absence on Saturday marked his 11th missed game this season, bringing him closer to being ineligible for this season’s MVP award. According to new rules, players are disqualified from several season-ending honors, including MVP and All-NBA, if they play in fewer than 65 games.

Embiid can now only miss six of Philadelphia’s final 38 games to remain eligible for a second consecutive MVP award.

Despite the absence of their star player, the 76ers nearly pulled off a surprising upset, leading after three quarters and being tied midway through the fourth before Denver secured the win behind Nikola Jokic’s 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Coach Malone acknowledged a letdown upon learning Embiid wouldn’t play, stating, “I think there was a collective exhale, and when you do that in this business, you can make for an interesting game like today. So first off, give them credit … those guys played outstanding, and we’re lucky to come out of here with a win today, let’s be honest.”