MRI reveals bone bruise, sidelining Joel Embiid for a few weeks

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers is helped up after getting injured in the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 12, 2021 in Washington, DC. DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

The Philadelphia 76ers star avoided a major knee injury, but will miss the next few weeks.

Friday night was supposed to be a momentous occasion, as Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid returned to the court or the first time since the All-Star break. But during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards, Embiid went down with a nasty-looking knee injury following a dunk attempt. Based on the video replay and watching the big man limp off the court, fans expected the worst. But they received some relieving news on Saturday.

According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski, Embiid’s MRI results revealed that he has a bone bruise in his left knee and he will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

76ers: Joel Embiid diagnosed with bone bruise in left knee, no structural damage

Sources told Shelburne and Wojnarowski that Embiid suffered no structural damage to his left knee and that his ACL and meniscus are intact. That will definitely cause 76ers fans to breath a huge sigh of relief.

This was Embiid’s first game back, as he missed out on starting in the All-Star Game after he and teammate Ben Simmons were deemed close contacts to a barber who tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, the two entered the NBA’s health and safety protocol.

Up until Embiid exited the game with the hyperextended left knee, the center had scored 23 points (8-for-11 from field, six-for six on free throws), grabbed seven rebounds, dished out three assists and blocked two shots. Then, the freak injury occurred on what was a routine dunk attempt and Embiid was ruled out instantly by the team.

This season, Embiid is averaging 29.9 points (career-high), 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 blocks all while shooting 52.5-percent from the field through 31 games.

The 76ers definitely avoided catastrophe with this injury update for Embiid, but he will miss out on pivotal games against the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers in this two week span. Either way, the 76ers can take solace in the fact that Embiid is not ruled out for the remainder of the season.

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