More Sixers woe as Embiid faces layoff with knee injury

LOS ANGELES, USA – Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid faces an indefinite layoff officials said Monday, February 27 (Tuesday in Manila) in the latest injury setback to the team.

Embiid skipped practice on Monday and is scheduled for more tests on his left knee after missing the Sixers’ last 5 games.

“Embiid did not take part in shootaround after (swelling) in left knee. MRI today. Listed out indefinitely,” the Sixers said on Twitter.

It comes with Philly still digesting the news that 2016 No.1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons will miss the rest of the season as he recovers from a foot injury.

The Sixers said Monday Simmons was undergoing a procedure designed to accelerate healing and was expected to resume training by the end of this week.

Without Embiid, Simmons, and Nerlens Noel, who was traded last week to the Dallas Mavericks, the 76ers are 4-6 in their last 10 games and 22-36 overall.

Simmons fractured his foot on September 30, the final day of pre-season training camp. He underwent surgery in October to repair an acute fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot.

The 20-year-old, seen as the key figure of the Sixers’ rebuilding plans, has not appeared in a regular-season game. – Rappler.com