Joel Embiid misses 4th consecutive game in Denver as 76ers make him a late scratch with sore knee

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Star Joel Embiid lost the 76ers game in Denver for the fourth consecutive season on Saturday after the team’s medical staff determined he should not play.

The Sixers ruled Embiid out minutes before kickoff after he suffered discomfort in his left knee during warmups. He denied basketball fans another major matchup with Nikola Jokic and the defending NBA champions, the Nuggets.

With Embiid in the Sixers locker room, the Ball Arena crowd erupted into chants of “Where’s Embiid?” when the Nuggets opened their game against the short-handed Sixers with a 13-4 run.

This is the 11th game Embiid has missed this season. He can only miss six more to remain eligible for league awards, including MVP, which he won last year for the first time and denied Jokic a third straight honor.

Also out for Denver were Tyrese Maxey (sprained left ankle), Tobias Harris (illness) and Mo Bamba (swollen right knee).

Embiid was not listed on Saturday’s injury report and was preparing to play in Denver for the first time since Nov. 8, 2019.

His last four meetings with Jokic were in Philadelphia, including a 126-121 Sixers victory on Jan. 16 in which Embiid had 41 points and 10 assists to Jokic’s 25 points and 19 rebounds in a matchup of the two. latest NBA MVPs.

Embiid was mocked last year with “Missing Person” signs in the stands at Ball Arena after he sat out the Sixers’ game in Denver with a sore calf, leading to accusations that he was dodging Jokic.