<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/knicks-news-edie-falco-joel-embiid-jalen-brunson-2024-nba-playoffs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Edie Falco nearly fought Joel Embiid for Jalen Brunson during 2024 NBA playoffs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/76ers-news-Edie-Falco-reveals-why-she-nearly-charged-at-Joel-Embiid-during-2024-NBA-playoffs.jpg"></figure><h1>Edie Falco nearly fought Joel Embiid for Jalen Brunson during 2024 NBA playoffs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-24T22:02:50-08:00">December 24th, 10:02pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-24T22:02:50-08:00">December 24th, 10:02pm</time><address><a>Matty Breisch</a>Matty Breisch is a multifaceted writer who specializes in NFL and WWE content at ClutchPoints. He can be read at Heavy, FanSided, The Needle Drop, Philadelphia Sports Network, and right here at ClutchPoints. Are you ready to read about football and wrestling? Well, you've come to the right place.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Celebrity</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When it comes to the NBA as a whole, few players are as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/olympics-news-joel-embiid-100-real-about-why-boos-paris-dont-bother-him" rel="noopener">unpopular outside of their fanbases as Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid</a>, especially <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-news-ny-fans-rip-joel-embiid-2-word-nsfw-chant" rel="noopener">when it comes to the New York Knicks</a>.</p><p>Need proof? Look no further than Edie Falco, the actress famous for playing Carmella in <i>The Sopranos</i> and Nurse Jackie in her namesake show, who <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/12/24/sports/sopranos-star-edie-falco-blasts-76ers-joel-embiid-hes-mean/" rel="noopener">nearly charged “The Process” for elbowing</a> Jalen Brunson during the playoffs earlier this year, as she noted on the <i>Roommates Show</i>.</p><p>“Joel Embiid, he’s mean. He like elbowed you in a game last year and I was going to go after him. I mean that’s how bad it was,” Falco said via the NY Post. “And then I think I’ve seen you guys play since then and you guys are all like cool with each other. I’m like, ‘You don’t hold a grudge?'”</p><p>Well, as it turns out, Brunson doesn’t, as he noted in his response.</p><p>“I don’t hold grudges, for the most part,” Brunson explained. “Yeah, I hold grudges, who am I to lie? But I’ve known Joel from before I even got in the league. I’ve met him a couple times. It’s just respect there. I think there’s a certain line where there’s respect, and you’re all competing, and once it’s done, it’s good. I wouldn’t say it’s cool; I would say it’s good.”</p><p>Embiid, take note: if you ever get into it against Brunson and “Don’t Stop Believin” starts playing on the arena’s PA, you’d better get your behind to the locker room, as Falco may not be as restrained the second time around.</p><figure class="op-interactive"></figure><h2><b>Edie Falco also isn’t okay with how the Knicks make trades</b></h2><p>Later in her appearance on the podcast, Falco commented on the Knicks’ trading activities, which she was not a fan of at first. While she has grown to like the new guys, she wishes the team would somehow get the fans involved, as they enjoyed the chemistry the group shared in 2024-24.</p><p>“You would think I would be better at managing trades than I am. I don’t know who’s in charge of making these decisions, but they gotta talk to the fans. A bunch of us really fell apart this last one. I’m coming around, the new guys are great,” Falco declared.</p><p>“You’re a Knick fan, but what does it mean to be a Knick fan? Just that they play in the Garden? It’s the guys. It’s the guys you get attached to. It’s the way they play together and the interactions and the inside jokes and whatever you guys all have that reads. You get rid of a couple of those guys, I was like ‘Are you f**king kidding me? You can’t do that.’ It’s not healthy, man. I have kids and a life and stuff, and I absolutely fell apart.”</p><p>Should the Knicks get in contact with the fans before they make a trade? No, no offense, Nurse Jackie, but that sounds like the absolute worst idea imaginable for a number of reasons. Still, good on the veteran actor for asking, nonetheless, as any true fan would probably do the same.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Edie Falco nearly fought Joel Embiid for Jalen Brunson during 2024 NBA playoffs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-philadelphia-kj-martin-injury-update-joel-embiid-return');   ga('set', 'title', '76ers get tough KJ Martin injury update after Joel Embiid return');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/76ers-news-Philly-gets-tough-KJ-Martin-injury-update-after-Joel-Embiid-return.jpg"></figure><h1>76ers get tough KJ Martin injury update after Joel Embiid return</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-24T12:29:38-08:00">December 24th, 12:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-24T12:29:38-08:00">December 24th, 12:29pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia 76ers’ 2024-25 season has not gone according to plan. Philadelphia currently holds a 10-17 record, as injuries have played a significant role in the team’s overall underperformance. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-is-joel-embiid-playing-vs-hornets-latest-injury-update-sinus-fracture">Joel Embiid recently returned from injury</a>, but Philadelphia <a href="https://x.com/bysamdigiovanni/status/1871639822055711153?s=46" rel="noopener">received another difficult update</a> on Tuesday, per 76ers beat reporter Sam DiGiovanni of ClutchPoints.</p><p>“This morning, KJ Martin underwent an MRI which revealed a stress reaction in his left foot. He is out and will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks,” the team announced, via DiGiovanni.</p><p>Martin, 23, is currently averaging 6.4 points per game across 24 contests played in the 2024-25 season. He has started seven games overall for the 76ers.</p><p>Martin has played at the NBA level since the 2020-21 campaign, when he made his debut in the league with the Philadelphia 76ers. He has established himself as a reliable role player. If the 76ers are going to turn things around this season, they will need Martin to continue to make an impact off the bench.</p><p>Philadelphia is obviously hopeful that Martin can return as soon as possible. He will seemingly miss at least two weeks at the very least.</p><p>The 76ers most recently defeated the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. Philadelphia earned a 111-106 win, overcoming a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-fans-lose-joel-embiids-ejection-foul-victor-wembanyama">controversial Joel Embiid ejection</a>. The game featured plenty of drama but Philadelphia was able to emerge victorious in the end. Perhaps Philadelphia is turning a corner, as they have now won three of their past four games.</p><p>However, the 76ers will be in for a challenge on Wednesday. Philadelphia will travel to Boston to play the Celtics in a Christmas Day clash. The Celtics are currently 22-7 and in second place in the Eastern Conference, while the 76ers are in 12th place with their 10-17 record.</p><p>The 76ers will try to upset the odds in Boston despite KJ Martin’s injury absence. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 PM EST.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

76ers get tough KJ Martin injury update after Joel Embiid return

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-joel-embiid-not-talking-mood-controversial-ejection');   ga('set', 'title', '76ers’ Joel Embiid not in talking mood after controversial ejection');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joel-Embiid-not-in-talking-mood-after-controversial-ejection.jpg"></figure><h1>76ers’ Joel Embiid not in talking mood after controversial ejection</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-24T06:38:00-08:00">December 24th, 6:38am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-24T06:38:29-08:00">December 24th, 6:38am</time><address><a>Jason Patt</a>Jason Patt started as an editor at ClutchPoints in 2018 and became the head of the editorial team in 2022. He also co-hosts Cash Considerations: A Chicago Bulls Podcast for the Blue Wire Network.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Philadelphia 76ers star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-fans-lose-joel-embiids-ejection-foul-victor-wembanyama">Joel Embiid was ejected</a> in controversial fashion during a chaotic first half against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. Embiid was seen smiling and celebrating with his teammates on the court after the Sixers pulled out a 111-108 victory over Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs, but the big man didn’t speak to the media. The Sixers center <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43133441/76ers-joel-embiid-ejected-chaotic-opening-half-vs-spurs" rel="noopener">left the stadium</a> as reporters entered the locker room for postgame availability, according to ESPN’s Michael C. Wright.</p><p>Embiid was ejected with a few minutes left in the first half. The Sixers star was whistled for his first technical foul of the game for arguing an offensive foul call after he barreled into Wembanyama. Embiid was upset with the technical and had to be restrained, leading referee Jenna Schroeder to assess a second technical foul and an ejection.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Joel Embiid has been ejected from Sixers-Spurs after picking up two technical fouls where he was called for a charge against Wemby on this play.</p><p>Good or bad ejection? 🤔 <a href="https://t.co/a4E0SQycGy">pic.twitter.com/a4E0SQycGy</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1871362075219693774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-nick-nurse-honest-take-strange-officiating-ejections-spurs">Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said</a> he didn’t get an explanation for Embiid’s ejection and “assumed it was for arguing.” Schroeder said Embiid was ejected for two unsportsmanlike technical fouls. There was some question if Embiid made contact with Schroeder during the incident, but crew chief Curtis Blair told a pool reporter there was “incidental contact with both of them” but also noted “there was nothing that warranted any further punishment.”</p><p>The Joel Embiid fiasco came after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-referee-admits-she-fd-up-andre-drummond-ejection-from-spurs">Andre Drummond was ejected and then unejected</a>. This whole sequence also involved Wembanyama and Schroeder, with Drummond picking up two quick technical fouls after a scuffle with Wemby. However, the second technical was rescinded after a review, leading Drummond to return to the court in a bizarre scene.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The crowd's reaction as Andre Drummond returned to the court after his ejection was reversed 😅<a href="https://t.co/LOfkAgpilY">pic.twitter.com/LOfkAgpilY</a> <a href="https://t.co/vlxgrLES1Q">https://t.co/vlxgrLES1Q</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1871359837583659123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Schroeder late admitted she “f***ed up.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I f*cked up"</p><p>NBA ref Jenna Schroeder during a stoppage in Sixers-Spurs 🔊</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NikJohnson_Art?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NikJohnson_Art</a>/ IG)<a href="https://t.co/Lkj8dmguoQ">pic.twitter.com/Lkj8dmguoQ</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1871378605273682086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The good news for the Sixers is they didn’t let this officiating mess ruin their night. Philadelphia picked up the crucial win behind 32 points from Tyrese Maxey, who hit a clutch 3-pointer in crunch time to help secure the win.</p><p>After a brutal 3-14 start to the season, the Sixers are 7-3 in their last 10 games to get up to 10-17. While that’s still outside the play-in picture, they’re only 1.5 games behind the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons, who currently hold the final two play-in spots in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>If Embiid and the Sixers can actually stay healthy, they should continue their run up the standings. That’s a big if, of course, but this team is showing signs of life.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

76ers’ Joel Embiid not in talking mood after controversial ejection

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-vs-spurs-refs-joel-embiid-victor-wembanyama');   ga('set', 'title', '76ers vs. Spurs: Refs overshadow Joel Embiid, Victor Wembanyama showdown');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/76ers-vs-Spurs.jpg"></figure><h1>76ers vs. Spurs: Refs overshadow Joel Embiid, Victor Wembanyama showdown</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T18:31:37-08:00">December 23rd, 6:31pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T20:27:31-08:00">December 23rd, 8:27pm</time><address><a>Sam DiGiovanni</a>Sam DiGiovanni started at ClutchPoints as an associate editor in 2021 and became the site's Philadelphia 76ers beat reporter ahead of the 2022-23 season. He graduated from Marist College in May of 2022 and has written for TheKnicksWall.com and CenterFieldMarist.com in the past.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia 76ers (10-17) got their first look of the season at the San Antonio Spurs (15-14) in their final home game of 2024. In an absolute circus of a basketball game, the Sixers held on to win 111-106.</p><p>After taking a game off on the second night of a back-to-back, Joel Embiid returned to the starting lineup to face Victor Wembanyama and the upstart Spurs. A Rookie-of-the-Year contender showdown between Jared McCain and Stephon Castle was canceled because of the former’s injury. But with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-kelly-oubre-jr-locker-room-vibes-win-hornets">the Sixers’ three stars all in action</a>, the stage was set for a competitive game.</p><p>The result was indeed that…just not in a way anyone wanted.</p><h2><b>Superstar bigs collide</b></h2><p>The last time Embiid and Wembanyama faced off in the NBA, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-joel-embiid-reveals-significance-of-having-70-point-game-in-front-of-brett-brown">Embiid set the 76ers’ single-game record for points, scoring 70</a>. Wemby was great in that game in his own right but the Sixers came out with the win. The superstar giants saw each other again in the Olympics with Embiid’s American squad taking home the gold over Wemby and Les Bleus.</p><p>Tonight’s matchup of the bigs was ended prematurely in one of the many displays of unbelievable officiating.</p><p>Embiid bodied Wembanyama time after time, backing him down relentlessly like a father playing one-on-one in the driveway against their son. Even for someone as long as the Spurs star, it was not easy to prevent his opponent from setting up in good spots. Embiid drew a shooting foul on Wemby on his first touch (though he gave it right back to San Antonio by pursuing a Devin Vassell three-pointer too hard).</p><p>Wemby had a rough night shooting the ball from downtown. Embiid’s size surely dissuaded him from taking certain shots and he couldn’t connect from downtown or establish inside position. He didn’t have the most sparkling half but he seemed to have the rising superstar’s number. And then the Grinch stole any sanity left in this hotly contested game.</p><p>Right before halftime, Embiid was called for a charge and argued the call, which would have left him with three fouls. He was animated and the referee who made the call, Jenna Schroeder, had enough of Embiid’s grumbling after roughly 15 seconds. She assessed him two quick technical fouls, which only angered him more. He was held back by teammates and staffers as an already wild game got kicked up from an 11 to about a 47.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Joel Embiid has been ejected from Sixers-Spurs after picking up two technical fouls where he was called for a charge against Wemby on this play.</p><p>Good or bad ejection? 🤔 <a href="https://t.co/a4E0SQycGy">pic.twitter.com/a4E0SQycGy</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1871362075219693774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>And that’s all that was written for Embiid vs. Wemby, Part 3.</p><p>The most notable part of Wemby’s game might have been his <a href="https://x.com/BySamDiGiovanni/status/1871356714580414491" rel="noopener">run-in in the second quarter</a> with Andre Drummond. The refs calling a tech on Drummond, then calling another, then calling a flopping technical on Wemby and then rescinding it after the Sixers shot their technical free-throw made for some wonderful Ref Ball. That’s what the people come to see!</p><h2><b>Overcoming Wemby’s defense</b></h2><p>Before the game, Nick Nurse all but admitted defeat when it came to shooting right at the basket against Wembanyama. He said that the Sixers need to <a href="https://x.com/dan_olinger/status/1871325723019170007" rel="noopener">get drive-and-kick sequences</a> and refrain from trying the NBA’s blocks leader at the rim. Embiid being in the lineup certainly made things easier, though constructing buckets against Wemby when he rested would be a challenge for a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-paul-george-key-fix-must-be-made-cavs-loss">Sixers offense that was anything but elite without him</a>.</p><p>Embiid’s gravity pulled Wemby away from the rim far, opening lanes for Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to get deep into the paint. He drew Jeremy Sochan away from PG, freeing him up for a triple. Embiid was big enough to push Wemby around. Unsurprisingly, no one else was.</p><p>The other Sixers were very hesitant to try Wemby. Without Embiid, they were almost entirely incapable of scoring in the paint. Drummond found out the hard way before all the shenanigans happened. His attempt to squeeze a layup by Wemby was thwarted quickly and emphatically. It was the first of three blocks in the final 80 seconds of the first quarter for the French Slenderman.</p><p>Without Embiid in the second half, Wemby was free to roam the court and scare off would-be shooters. He forced the Sixers into shooting more threes. Although their shooting had been unimpressive, they rose to the occasion, nailing three of them in the span of two minutes to take their largest lead of the night. Maxey set up a lot of the threes with crisp drive-and-kicks, raising his team’s volume to match that of San Antonio.</p><p>The Spurs punched back in the third quarter. A charge led by rookie Stephon Castle cut a 15-point deficit as low as six. They launched lots of treys with thoughts of a comeback dancing in their heads. However, the Sixers kept the ball moving and hit shots of their own, holding on tightly to their lead.</p><p>As Philly’s offense stalled, Chris Paul hit a huge three to put the Spurs ahead midway through the fourth quarter. It was a tight contest the rest of the way, neither team running out to big advantages. They traded buckets in the final minutes, one of which was an and-one dunk from Maxey. Then he stuck the dagger into his opponent with a step-back three, concluding his night with 32 points (12 in the fourth quarter), 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals.</p><p>Maxey taking charge was precisely what the Sixers needed in this game. It’s something to build on for future Embiid-less stretches and a reminder that he’s not someone to lay down when things get hard.</p><h2><b>Sacre bleu, Guerschon Yabusele!</b></h2><p>Wembanyama wasn’t the only Frenchie wreaking havoc.</p><p>Yabusele gave the Sixers a huge lift off the bench, igniting the run in the third quarter and hitting some huge shots early on. He saw a huge uptick in minutes with Embiid out, starting the second half and matching up with Wembanyama often. He expertly used the rim to prevent Wemby from blocking one of his layup attempts and straight up made shots (6-8 from the field).</p><p>On defense, Yabusele was just as impressive. How many players are capable of blocking Wemby and baiting CP3 into a turnover? The 76ers forward did both in this one on his way to racking up a game-high four steals.</p><p>KJ Martin started and made some great hustle plays but he wasn’t having his best game. The Sixers sorely needed Yabusele in this one, especially with Drummond being ruled out in the third quarter due to a toe injury and Martin later being ruled out in the fourth.</p><p>Next up for the 76ers: a six-game road trip that will take them into the new year. It begins on Christmas with their first matchup against the Boston Celtics this season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

76ers vs. Spurs: Refs overshadow Joel Embiid, Victor Wembanyama showdown

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-fans-lose-joel-embiids-ejection-foul-victor-wembanyama');   ga('set', 'title', '76ers fans lose it over Joel Embiid’s ejection after foul on Victor Wembanyama');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/76ers-news-Joel-Embiid-gets-ejected-for-controversial-foul-on-Victor-Wembanyama.jpg"></figure><h1>76ers fans lose it over Joel Embiid’s ejection after foul on Victor Wembanyama</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T17:45:53-08:00">December 23rd, 5:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T17:58:33-08:00">December 23rd, 5:58pm</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The night ended a little early for Philadelphia 76ers star big man Joel Embiid after he was called for two technical fouls and subsequently ejected from Monday night’s home game versus the visiting San Antonio Spurs.</p><p>The disqualifying second technical foul was slapped on the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sixers-news-joel-embiid-wins-mvp-award-after-historic-2022-23-season">76ers franchise player and former NBA Most Valuable Player</a> in the third quarter and with the 76ers trailing the visitors by two points after he got called for a foul on star Victor Wembanyama.</p><p>Before he got tossed from the contest, Embiid had scored nine points on just 2-for-8 shooting from the floor to go with six rebounds, five assists and a steal in 14 minutes of action</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Joel Embiid was FURIOUS after picking up an offensive foul on Wemby 😳</p><p>Embiid was hit with two techs and was ejected 😬 <a href="https://t.co/9rVIGazig1">pic.twitter.com/9rVIGazig1</a></p><p>— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1871363566726524984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Fans have strong reactions to Joel Embiid’s ejection from Spurs-76ers game</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joel-Embiid.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As expected, fans reacted strongly to Embiid’s ejection, with many using that as an example of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/celtics-news-joe-mazzulla-blame-nba-ratings-dip-but-he-asks-key-question">why the NBA’s ratings are down</a>.</p><p>“Yeah Joel Embiid earned this ejection. No need to yell in that woman’s face like that with all due respect,” <a href="https://x.com/casualtakeking/status/1871365178383823221" rel="noopener">said </a>an X user.</p><p>“Joel Embiid just got tossed for this…Keep in mind, this was right after the same ref tossed Andre Drummond for the most obvious &amp; blatant Wemby flop you’ve ever seen. Wtf is happening? Haven’t seen Embiid that heated before…NBA refs remain a joke,” <a href="https://x.com/JoshReynolds24/status/1871362687990628401" rel="noopener">said another commenter</a>, who was also referring to 76ers backup center Andre Drummond’s ejection earlier in the game (which was later rescinded).</p><p>From <a href="https://x.com/BronGotGame/status/1871362395966431619" rel="noopener">another X user</a>: “The league wonders why the ratings down and you got these soft a*s refs ejecting Embiid when people came to see him &amp; Wemby match up.”</p><p>“Oh my god the same ref who ejected Andre Drummond just ejected Joel Embiid. What is going on,” a <a href="https://x.com/big_business_/status/1871361468631007309" rel="noopener">different comment</a> read.</p><p>Via another <a href="https://x.com/PlayoffLucro/status/1871363475257324021" rel="noopener">comment</a>: “Refs use ejections as a threat if a player starts arguing with them 🤦🏾‍♂️ Embiid got ejected for screaming in an arena lmao atp you have to hold the refs accountable and fine them the whole games worth for mistakes like this.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

76ers fans lose it over Joel Embiid’s ejection after foul on Victor Wembanyama

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-joel-embiid-shouts-out-paul-george-for-support-amid-injury');   ga('set', 'title', '76ers’ Joel Embiid shouts out Paul George for support amid injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joel-Embiid-shouts-out-Paul-George-for-support-while-injured.jpg"></figure><h1>76ers’ Joel Embiid shouts out Paul George for support amid injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T23:03:44-08:00">December 20th, 11:03pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T23:03:44-08:00">December 20th, 11:03pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The 2024-25 season has not been kind to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-is-joel-embiid-playing-vs-hornets-latest-injury-update-sinus-fracture">Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid</a>, at least up until this point. Embiid has been at the center of some load management controversy amid his ongoing battles with knee injuries, and just as it looked as though he was finding his stride on the season, he suffered a sinus fracture — delaying him from once again getting into a consistent rhythm. But on Friday night, Embiid made his return to the court just five days after sustaining his latest injury, and he played a starring role in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-kelly-oubre-jr-locker-room-vibes-win-hornets">76ers’ 108-98 win</a> over the Charlotte Hornets.</p><p>Embiid put up yet another 30-point outing on Friday, this time tallying 34 points on 12-24 shooting from the field to buoy the 76ers to victory. And after the game, the 76ers star reflected upon his injury recovery journey while crediting Paul George for being one of the <a href="https://x.com/therealmikekb/status/1870328158479585700" rel="noopener">biggest guys in his corner</a> amid this ordeal.</p><p>“It’s great. You can never get enough of the support. When you have the support from family, people close to you, your teammates, guys like him, that’s the reason why you keep going and keep figuring out that because that’s who you play for. People that support you, people that push you,” Embiid shared, per Michael Kaskey-Blomain of ESPN 97.3.</p><p>The 76ers star has revealed in the past how much not being able to play regularly has been bothering him, but now, he is simply <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-joel-embiids-former-teammate-blasts-marcus-hayes-article">focusing on getting himself right</a> so he can set out to achieve what he wants to in his career.</p><p>“I have a hard time disappointing people, which I’m working on, so when you get that kind of support, it’s not that hard. Like I said, you feel bad about yourself and I like to please people, so just have to keep going,” Embiid added.</p><h2><b>Paul George knows how 76ers star Joel Embiid feels on the injury front</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Injured-Philadelphia-76ers-Paul-George-R-and-Joel-Embiid-L.jpg"><figcaption>© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If there’s anyone in the NBA who can relate to Joel Embiid on the injury department, it’s Paul George. George, the 76ers’ marquee signing this past offseason, has a considerable injury history himself — most notably breaking his leg back in a Team USA exhibition in 2014.</p><p>Since the 2014-15 season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-nick-nurse-drops-close-revelation-about-paul-george-knee-injury">George has dealt with a plethora of injuries</a>; in 2018 and 2019, he dealt with shoulder injuries after the playoffs, and then during the 2021-22 season, he sustained an elbow injury and in a bit of added misfortune, a COVID-19 infection prevented him from suiting up in the play-in tournament.</p><p>The following year, George bumped knees with Luguentz Dort, ending his season early with a knee sprain. And then to start the 2024-25 season, he hyperextended his knee on multiple occasions, forcing him to miss time.</p><p>Thus, George, nearly more than anyone in the NBA, would understand where Embiid is coming from.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

76ers’ Joel Embiid shouts out Paul George for support amid injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-gilbert-arenas-philadelphia-shutting-joel-embiid-paul-george-down');   ga('set', 'title', 'Gilbert Arenas makes case for 76ers shutting Joel Embiid, Paul George down');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/76ers-news-Gilbert-Arenas-makes-case-for-Philadelphia-shutting-Joel-Embiid-Paul-George-down.jpg"></figure><h1>Gilbert Arenas makes case for 76ers shutting Joel Embiid, Paul George down</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T12:11:18-08:00">December 20th, 12:11pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T12:11:18-08:00">December 20th, 12:11pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-nick-nurse-makes-brutally-honest-admission-on-blizzard-of-injuries">Philadelphia 76ers are having a nightmare season</a>, as injuries have been the main story of the year so far. Joel Embiid is the main player, as he continues to deal with a knee issue while also recently suffering a face injury that kept him from playing this week.</p><p>With the way their season is going, there’s a low chance that they’ll win a championship, let alone make the playoffs, and Gilbert Arenas threw out the idea of them <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1870175481418387512" rel="noopener">shutting down both</a> Embiid and Paul George for the rest of the year.</p><p>“You should have cut the cord f—–g weeks ago,” Arenas said on his show. “Embiid, cut. Paul George, we’ll see. If not, get healthy. They’re not going to help you win a championship this year, so if they can’t help you win a championship, shut them down. I just paid you money. I need to protect it. [Embiid and George], I don’t give a f— what y’all talking about, chill out.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"If they can't help you win a championship, shut them down."</p><p>Gilbert Arenas thinks the Sixers should shut down Joel Embiid and Paul George for the rest of the season 😳</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/GilsArenaShow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GilsArenaShow</a>)<a href="https://t.co/MRJyl0SVqO">pic.twitter.com/MRJyl0SVqO</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1870175481418387512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>George has also been in and out of the lineup this year with injuries, but he’s played in the last four games for the 76ers. The team wouldn’t come out this early in the season and rule both of their star players out, but with the way the year has been going, it would be understandable why they do it.</p><h2>76ers still trying to make most season</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Joel-Embiid.jpg"><figcaption>Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Though the 76ers are not where they want to be right now, they’re still competing with who they have and stacking up a few wins as the season continues. Paul George had a breakout game against the Charlotte Hornets, where he scored 33 points. After the game, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-paul-george-resilient-praise-tyrese-maxey">Tyrese Maxey praised George for staying resilient</a> with everything that has been going on this season.</p><p>“Paul’s good. I think he’s finally getting comfortable, [in a] rhythm,” Maxey said. “It’s hard, man. New team, new system, guys in and out, he was in and out, got hurt, came back, got hurt again. That’s tough, man. He’s been resilient, man.</p><p>The 76ers have shown what they can do when everyone is healthy, but the problem is that they have rarely been healthy. Along with Joel Embiid, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-jared-mccain-devastating-knee-injury-update">Jared McCain will be out indefinitely</a> after suffering a meniscus injury. McCain was having a strong rookie season and was leading in the Rookie of the Year race. The 76ers will now have to manage with what they have and hope they can find a spark before it’s too late.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Gilbert Arenas makes case for 76ers shutting Joel Embiid, Paul George down

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/3-driving-forces-76ers-solid-defense-despite-joel-embiid-absence');   ga('set', 'title', '3 driving forces behind 76ers’ solid defense despite Joel Embiid’s absence');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/3-driving-forces-behind-76ers-solid-defense-despite-Joel-Embiids-absence.jpg"></figure><h1>3 driving forces behind 76ers’ solid defense despite Joel Embiid’s absence</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T08:47:09-08:00">December 20th, 8:47am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T08:47:09-08:00">December 20th, 8:47am</time><address><a>Sam DiGiovanni</a>Sam DiGiovanni started at ClutchPoints as an associate editor in 2021 and became the site's Philadelphia 76ers beat reporter ahead of the 2022-23 season. He graduated from Marist College in May of 2022 and has written for TheKnicksWall.com and CenterFieldMarist.com in the past.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Very little has gone right for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2024-25 season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-masked-joel-embiid-teased-for-imminent-return">Joel Embiid’s saga of prolonged injuries</a> has sidelined him for long stretches, almost every other rotation player has gotten injured and the team has sputtered out to a losing record that will last into the new year. One thing the Sixers have gotten right — or, at the very least, not gotten wrong — is defense.</p><p>The middle of the pack, the area the 76ers have inhabited on the league-wide leaderboard for defensive rating for much of the season, is not a desirable destination for a team that touts itself as a title contender. But the Sixers’ roster has been depleted, most notably missing Embiid for all but six of its first 24 games. On top of being one of the best offensive engines in the sport when healthy, he’s also a terrific defender, an imposing force that warps the shot selection of entire opposing teams.</p><p>Even this season, with his left knee continually giving him problems, Embiid has been a very impactful defender in the few games he played. Without him to clean up mistakes and prevent shots at the rim, the Sixers have surprisingly kept their heads above water. They’ve kept their opponent below the league average in team points per game (113.0) 13 times, seven of which ended in wins, and rank 12th in the NBA in defensive rating.</p><p>The 76ers’ offense remains very bad — a tied-for-27th-in-offensive-rating kind of bad. It requires nothing short of one or two players catching fire to heat up the entire unit and sorely lacks reliable three-point shooting and playmaking. But defensively, the Sixers have been pretty solid for a few key reasons.</p><h2><b>Steals, steals, steals</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Tyrese-Maxey-guards-Cole-Anthony.webp"><figcaption>© Kyle Ross-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The best thing the 76ers have going for them as a team is how often they force turnovers.</p><p>The shooting percentage on shots within three feet of the rim from 76ers opponents is <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2025.html#shooting-opponent::15" rel="noopener">one of the highest in the league</a>, as is the frequency of getting those looks. They also get up threes at an above-average frequency, though their percentage is not very high. Opposing offenses really make the Sixers’ defense work, so their solution is to prematurely end the opposing offense’s possessions as often as possible.</p><p>All season long, the Sixers have forced turnovers relentlessly. They are currently fifth in steals per game, an impressive mark for the team with the slowest pace in the league. They’re one of three teams to force a turnover on over 15 percent of their opponents’ possessions. The other two teams are the Oklahoma City Thunder, owners of the best defensive rating in the league, and the Orlando Magic, who rank third.</p><p>Tyrese Maxey, in particular, <a href="https://www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-analysis-tyrese-maxey-stats-highlights-defense-height-weight-wingspan-nick-nurse/" rel="noopener">has been substantially better</a> when it comes to generating steals. His amount of steals per game (2.1) and per 100 possessions (2.8) blow his previous career highs out of the water. The 76ers star is near the top of the individual leaderboard in steals per game, sitting in a tie for second place with Luka Doncic.</p><p>The Sixer that racks up steals most frequently in the minutes they play is, surprisingly, Andre Drummond. The big man averages just 20.5 minutes per game but manages to average 1.4 steals per contest. That averages out to 2.4 steals per 36 minutes and a steal percentage of 3.3, which would rank among the best in the league if he qualified for the leaderboard.</p><p>The big man struggles to defend the paint, which makes him a net negative on that end of the floor for the 76ers. But when he does something good on that end, it’s usually a takeaway. Similarly, Kelly Oubre Jr. struggles to contain dribble penetration and fight through screens but also records plenty of steals, averaging 1.3 per game.</p><p>There’s another Sixer with a knack for recording steals, though he’s the whole package when it comes to wing defense.</p><h2><b>Paul George’s spectacular defense</b></h2><p>Paul George has heeded the advice of Jess Day, looking right at opposing offenses and saying, <a href="https://youtu.be/-P-WrrgH8io?si=Fj2x2mf3Etb6Ioz7" rel="noopener">“Shut it DOWN.”</a></p><p>Surprisingly, the 76ers’ offense has performed way worse with George on the floor this season. The veteran star is often extraordinary to watch as a pure scorer but he still has nights where he shoots poorly, turns the ball over a lot and doesn’t get to the free-throw line at a high rate. Because he (understandably) commands the ball so much, those issues become the team’s issues during his minutes. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Sixers are 7.7 points <i>worse</i> per 100 possessions on offense with PG.</p><p>However, the script flips on defense. The Sixers are 8.7 points <i>better</i> per 100 possessions when George is in. Although he isn’t the all-world shutdown man he used to be, he’s still a very versatile and fundamentally sound defender.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I find myself very impressed by Paul George's defense this season whenever I watch the Sixers <a href="https://t.co/W8yNpYkyWB">pic.twitter.com/W8yNpYkyWB</a></p><p>— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) <a href="https://twitter.com/jackfrank_jjf/status/1869568236439888184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Just like Maxey and Drummond, George racks up plenty of steals. He averages 1.9 per game, attacking ball-handlers when their back is turned and snatching away passes. He rarely fails to see and understand the play as it happens in front of him. That level of IQ in a frame as long as his means offenses are in for a tough time when they try to go at him or don’t account for him on the weak side.</p><p>While PG-8 may not be up in his opponent’s grill on the ball all game long, he’s a big, mobile wing who’s got mountains of experience guarding at the NBA level. Away from the ball, he’s fundamentally sound and can put that athleticism and size to good use. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-film-room-paul-george-fits-in-with-new-squad-immediately">George’s strong off-ball defense</a> helps the Sixers plug up gaps and push offenses deeper into the shot clock (more on that later).</p><p>George is nothing too special as a rebounder but he helps the 76ers grab more on the defensive end when he plays, which also means that opponents get fewer offensive boards. He’s still big enough to hold his ground and springy enough to sky for missed shots, averaging 7.3 defensive boards per 100 possessions.</p><p>Among the questions coming into George’s first season with the Sixers was how well he could play defense. So far, the answer is nothing short of fantastic.</p><h2><b>Holding it down in the halfcourt </b></h2><p>The 76ers’ transition defense is just plain bad. But they take care of business when the game slows down, <a href="https://cleaningtheglass.com/stats/league/context#tab-defense_halfcourt_putbacks">ranking seventh in halfcourt defense</a> on Cleaning the Glass.</p><p>The Sixers’ opponents get shots up “<a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/opponent-shots-shotclock?ShotClockRange=4-0%20Very%20Late&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FGA_FREQUENCY" rel="noopener">very late ”in the shot clock</a> (the slice of the 24 seconds between four and zero seconds left, as defined by the NBA’s stats website) more frequently than all but four team’s opponents. The Sixers force shots that are deemed “late” in the clock (between seven and four seconds left) at a roughly average frequency and they prevent shots in “early” shot-clock situations (between 18 and 15 seconds) better than the vast majority of the league.</p><p>Although the numbers across the board in every shot-clock situation don’t perfectly align, they show that the 76ers have been pretty good at forcing teams to shoot later in their possessions, when good looks are harder to come by. For a team without much rim protection or size on the wings, this allows a defensive unit’s whole to at least equal the sum of its parts, if not slightly exceed it.</p><p>Role players like Caleb Martin, KJ Martin, Ricky Council IV and Adem Bona can step into games and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-film-room-3-youngsters-x-factors-pistons">provide the Sixers with sound defense</a>. Not only are they athletic enough to make great plays but they understand where to rotate and can guard multiple positions. Although each of them has strengths and weaknesses on offense — some of which are quite glaring — they have plenty to offer on the other end.</p><p>It’s hard to predict when, or if, Embiid will be able to play for long stretches of the season. But it’s easy to imagine a 76ers turnaround — should there be one — coming through an elite paint defender joining a team that’s already pretty solid on defense.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 driving forces behind 76ers’ solid defense despite Joel Embiid’s absence

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-is-joel-embiid-playing-vs-hornets-latest-injury-update-sinus-fracture');   ga('set', 'title', 'Is Joel Embiid playing vs. Hornets? Latest injury update on 76ers superstar');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NBA-Insider-expects-Joel-Embiid-suspension-following-shove-of-reporter.jpg"></figure><h1>Is Joel Embiid playing vs. Hornets? Latest injury update on 76ers superstar</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T04:56:44-08:00">December 20th, 4:56am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T04:56:44-08:00">December 20th, 4:56am</time><address><a>Sam DiGiovanni</a>Sam DiGiovanni started at ClutchPoints as an associate editor in 2021 and became the site's Philadelphia 76ers beat reporter ahead of the 2022-23 season. He graduated from Marist College in May of 2022 and has written for TheKnicksWall.com and CenterFieldMarist.com in the past.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia 76ers will face the Charlotte Hornets for the second time in a row and the fourth time in their last seven games, this time at the Wells Fargo Center at 7:00 P.M. EST. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-vs-hornets-tyrese-maxey-paul-george-73-points">Sixers will pursue a series sweep over Charlotte</a> and watch for an important injury update. <b>Is Joel Embiid playing tonight vs. the Hornets? </b></p><h2><b>Is Joel Embiid playing tonight vs. Hornets?</b></h2><p>Embiid is <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2024-12-20_07AM.pdf" rel="noopener">listed as questionable</a> on the NBA injury report due to a right sinus fracture.</p><p>That fracture was the only thing listed for Embiid, which suggests that the left knee problems that sidelined him at the start of the season have died down for the time being. The big man has only missed one game so far after suffering the fracture last Friday. He collided with Indiana Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin while pursuing a rebound just before halftime.</p><p>Over the last two days, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-masked-joel-embiid-teased-for-imminent-return">Embiid has looked good in practice and worn a mask</a>. He has played games with a mask before when dealing with an orbital bone fracture in the past. While it’s certainly not what he prefers, the big man is eager to return to the court, especially after missing lots of time already this season.</p><p>The 76ers, at 8-16, need to keep winning games and climb in the standings. Paul George and Tyrese Maxey combined for 73 points in their last game against Charlotte and will need to keep leading the way.</p><p>Caleb Martin (right shoulder impingement) and Jared McCain (left knee meniscus surgery) remain out for the 76ers. Adem Bona, who missed the last four games with a left knee issue, is no longer listed on the injury report. The Hornets will come into Philadelphia on the second night of a back-to-back with starting wing Brandon Miller nursing an ankle injury that sidelined him on Thursday against the Washington Wizards.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Is Joel Embiid playing vs. Hornets? Latest injury update on 76ers superstar

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-masked-joel-embiid-teased-for-imminent-return');   ga('set', 'title', 'Masked Joel Embiid teased for imminent return');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Masked-Joel-Embiid-teased-for-imminent-return.jpg"></figure><h1>Masked Joel Embiid teased for imminent return</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T10:33:50-08:00">December 19th, 10:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T10:33:50-08:00">December 19th, 10:33am</time><address><a>Sam DiGiovanni</a>Sam DiGiovanni started at ClutchPoints as an associate editor in 2021 and became the site's Philadelphia 76ers beat reporter ahead of the 2022-23 season. He graduated from Marist College in May of 2022 and has written for TheKnicksWall.com and CenterFieldMarist.com in the past.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia 76ers have not yet cleared <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-joel-embiid-gets-crucial-update-face-injury">Joel Embiid to return from his sinus fracture</a>. However, the big man has been able to participate in practice and doesn’t appear to be too far away from jumping back into the lineup.</p><p>Backup center Andre Drummond, while making it clear he doesn’t intend to speak for Embiid or the team, said that he came away impressed with how he looked in five-on-five scrimmages and said that he wore a mask. Embiid’s re-evaluation isn’t scheduled for a few more days but he appears to be making progress.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sixers center Andre Drummond said Joel Embiid looked good at practice the past two days.</p><p>On Monday, the team said Joel will be re-evaluated in approximately a week. The next official injury report will be released later today. <a href="https://twitter.com/KYWNewsradio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KYWNewsradio</a> <a href="https://t.co/PyNsdpmNHg">pic.twitter.com/PyNsdpmNHg</a></p><p>— Dave Uram (@MrUram) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrUram/status/1869806005263224914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“He looked fine in practice the past two days,” Drummond said following the team’s practice. “He’s a grown man so whatever he decides to do, it’s on him. I’m just saying he looks ready to play to me, so that’s why I said it…Obviously, it’s up to him if he feels comfortable going out there. But he looked fine to me. He’s been moving around, he wore his mask. Whatever the team doctors say for tomorrow, I didn’t say it here first.”</p><h2><b>Joel Embiid participating in 76ers’ practice amid injury recovery</b></h2><p>On top of managing the recovery of his left knee, Embiid is recovering from yet another facial injury. It seems like the Phantom of the Process will return to court when the big man is cleared.</p><p>Embiid has played with a mask in games before, most recently in the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-76ers-miami-heat-nba-sports-nikola-jokic-39153f858df5cdd7701a01848c58e510" rel="noopener">second round of the 2022 Playoffs</a> after suffering a fractured orbital bone. It was the second time he suffered that injury in the NBA and played through it in the postseason, the first of which occurred in 2018. There was also last year’s playoffs, where <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-joel-embiid-earns-vigerous-defense-from-espn-personality">Embiid played through Bell’s Palsy</a> and a recently repaired knee. He may get injured often but he’s always looking to return as soon as he can.</p><p>While Embiid’s status for the 76ers’ home game on Friday against the Charlotte Hornets remains up in the air, Caleb Martin (right shoulder impingement) and Adem Bona (left knee tendinopathy) could also be reactivated after participating in recent practices. Nick Nurse said that there is still a <a href="https://x.com/JGrieb10/status/1869795487995572551" rel="noopener">“question on their availability,”</a> per Josh Grieb of Liberty Ballers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Masked Joel Embiid teased for imminent return

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-stephen-a-smith-ben-simmons-joel-embiid');   ga('set', 'title', 'Stephen A. Smith sends Ben Simmons warning to Joel Embiid');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/76ers-news-Is-Joel-Embiid-playing-vs-Hornets-Latest-injury-update.jpg"></figure><h1>Stephen A. Smith sends Ben Simmons warning to Joel Embiid</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-17T09:29:40-08:00">December 17th, 9:29am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-17T11:28:41-08:00">December 17th, 11:28am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Stephen A. Smith has an attention-catching message for Joel Embiid. The ESPN analyst said the Philadelphia 76ers star is on the verge of drawing Ben Simmons comparisons. Smith <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1869066324812644788" rel="noopener">made the comments</a> on ESPN First Take, via ClutchPoints.</p><p>“Let me say this to Joel Embiid in all seriousness… You’re about a tad bit away from being compared to Ben Simmons,” Smith said. “It’s starting to look that bad. Now let me tell you something right now, you bring up the injuries and all of that stuff. I look at the disinterest on his face… the lack of enthusiasm.”</p><p>Embiid has been limited by injuries in recent seasons. Although <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-joel-embiid-gets-crucial-update-face-injury">Embiid is once again dealing with injury trouble</a> during the 2024-25 campaign, Smith seems to have more of a problem with his attitude on the floor.</p><p>“We can talk about his injuries… But here’s the problem,” Smith continued. “You were injured last year, you only played 39 games. In the playoffs, obviously you got bounced in the first round by the New York Knicks. You didn’t look that way in the Olympics. You looked pretty d*mn happy… And then inexplicably you ain’t ready to go come this season.”</p><p>Of course, you can’t blame a player for being injured. However, Smith said that Joel Embiid “looked happy” in the Olympics but was unable to play to begin the 2024-25 NBA season. The 76ers center has appeared in only six games overall during the 2024-25 campaign so far.</p><p>There was a time when Ben Simmons was considered to be one of the best guards in the NBA. At 6’10”, he could guard any position on the floor. Simmons was also a tremendous playmaker and finisher. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-ben-simmons-drops-knee-injury-revelation-magic-game">Injuries have ultimately forced Simmons to miss a significant amount of time</a>, however.</p><p>Injuries are part of sports. It is unfortunate to see players have to miss time, but it is the harsh reality of the situation. Stephen A. Smith seemingly wants to see Joel Embiid look more motivated for NBA games, though.</p><p>What do you think of Smith’s take on Embiid’s situation?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Stephen A. Smith sends Ben Simmons warning to Joel Embiid

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-joel-embiid-gets-crucial-update-face-injury');   ga('set', 'title', '76ers’ Joel Embiid gets crucial update after face injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/76ers-news-Joel-Embiid-gets-crucial-update-after-face-injury.jpg"></figure><h1>76ers’ Joel Embiid gets crucial update after face injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-16T11:12:09-08:00">December 16th, 11:12am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-16T11:29:43-08:00">December 16th, 11:29am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia 76ers provided an update on <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/joel-embiid-exits-game-vs-pacers-after-scary-injury">Joel Embiid after he suffered a face injury</a> in their matchup against the Indiana Pacers.</p><p>“Philadelphia 76ers say Joel Embiid (right sinus fracture) will remain out and be re-evaluated in approximately one week,” NBA insider Chris Haynes <a href="https://x.com/TheSteinLine/status/1868734041157255224" rel="noopener">wrote on X</a>, formerly Twitter.</p><p>The hits continue to come for Embiid, who has been in and out of the lineup this season as he tries to manage his knee injury. The 76ers may be used to Embiid being out of the lineup, but the team had high expectations coming into the season. Hopefully, this gives him enough to rest his knee as well as he tries to get healthy.</p><h2>Joel Embiid, 76ers continues to deal with injuries</h2><p>A few days after Joel Embiid suffered the injury, head coach Nick Nurse shared an update on the 76ers’ center availability and if he would have to wear a mask in the future.</p><p>“We just still need information on this last assessment here this afternoon,” Nurse said.  “I think that’s certainly a possibility. He’s certainly done that before, but I don’t know that. Nobody’s told me that, ‘Yes, it’s gonna be a mask situation for sure.’ Nobody’s told me that.”</p><p>Embiid isn’t the only player for the 76ers who suffered an injury against the Pacers, as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-jared-mccain-devastating-knee-injury-update">Jared McCain has a tear in his left meniscus</a> and will be out indefinitely. McCain was having a big rookie season for the 76ers, and through the past few weeks, he had found himself in Rookie of the Year conversations.</p><p>The 76ers will not have to get more from their other players, most notably Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. At 7-16, the season isn’t completely lost for the 76ers, but they’re going to have to go on a run if they want any chance of the playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

76ers’ Joel Embiid gets crucial update after face injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-is-joel-embiid-playing-vs-hornets-latest-injury-update');   ga('set', 'title', 'Is Joel Embiid playing vs. Hornets? Latest injury update on 76ers superstar');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/76ers-news-Is-Joel-Embiid-playing-vs-Hornets-Latest-injury-update.jpg"></figure><h1>Is Joel Embiid playing vs. Hornets? Latest injury update on 76ers superstar</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-16T04:37:19-08:00">December 16th, 4:37am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-16T04:37:49-08:00">December 16th, 4:37am</time><address><a>Sam DiGiovanni</a>Sam DiGiovanni started at ClutchPoints as an associate editor in 2021 and became the site's Philadelphia 76ers beat reporter ahead of the 2022-23 season. He graduated from Marist College in May of 2022 and has written for TheKnicksWall.com and CenterFieldMarist.com in the past.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia 76ers will begin a home-and-home with the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night at Spectrum Center. They continue to deal with injury problems and will be shorthanded in their next game, missing two of their best players. <b>Is Joel Embiid playing tonight vs. the Hornets? </b></p><p>Despite a speck of hope that he could play, the big man will be sidelined yet again.</p><h2><b>Is Joel Embiid playing vs. Hornets?</b></h2><p>Embiid is <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2024-12-16_07AM.pdf" rel="noopener">listed as out</a> on the NBA injury report due to a right sinus fracture. Nick Nurse indicated on Sunday that there was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-nick-nurse-provides-surprising-joel-embiid-injury-update">a chance he could play</a>. However, Embiid will miss at least one game after taking a forearm to the face in the first half of Philly’s loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Joel Embiid went down hard after being hit in the face by Bennedict Mathurin on a rebound attempt. </p><p>Praying he is alright 🙏🏽<br> <a href="https://t.co/vB6O7AjVGm">pic.twitter.com/vB6O7AjVGm</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1867740893295612252?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>After continuing his recovery from last season’s left knee injury into this season, Embiid had a handful of games with at least two days of rest to get back into the swing of things. Unfortunately, he was dealt yet another brutal injury that will force him to miss his 18th game of the season.</p><p>In roughly 50 minutes of action over his last two games, Embiid notched 43 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists on 17-37 shooting from the field. He had <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-film-room-how-joel-embiid-ramped-up-to-dominant-form-vs-bulls">started to look really solid</a> after looking like a shell of himself for his first few games of the season. The Sixers, sitting at 7-16, have started to pick it up following a brutal start to the season and need to pick up a win in Charlotte before their schedule starts to heat up.</p><p>Along with Embiid, the 76ers will be without Jared McCain (left knee meniscus tear), Caleb Martin (right shoulder impingement) and Adem Bona (left knee tendinopathy).</p><p>LaMelo Ball is listed as questionable due to a left calf strain. The Hornets star will look to return from a seven-game absence. Tre Mann (disc irritation) and Grant Williams (right ACL tear) have been ruled out.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-nick-nurse-provides-surprising-joel-embiid-injury-update');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nick Nurse provides surprising Joel Embiid injury update');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/76ers-news-Nick-Nurse-provides-surprising-Joel-Embiid-injury-update.jpg"></figure><h1>Nick Nurse provides surprising Joel Embiid injury update</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-15T10:26:23-08:00">December 15th, 10:26am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-15T10:26:23-08:00">December 15th, 10:26am</time><address><a>Sam DiGiovanni</a>Sam DiGiovanni started at ClutchPoints as an associate editor in 2021 and became the site's Philadelphia 76ers beat reporter ahead of the 2022-23 season. He graduated from Marist College in May of 2022 and has written for TheKnicksWall.com and CenterFieldMarist.com in the past.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>CAMDEN, N.J. — Joel Embiid has suffered yet another injury setback. Right after the Philadelphia 76ers center made good progress in his left knee injury recovery, he <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/joel-embiid-exits-game-vs-pacers-after-scary-injury" rel="noopener">suffered a sinus fracture</a>. Fortunately, there is a chance that he will remain in the lineup.</p><p>Nick Nurse said that Embiid will undergo another evaluation Sunday afternoon and that he has not yet been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.</p><p>“We just still need information on this last assessment here this afternoon,” Nurse said. The 76ers’ head coach added that he wasn’t totally certain about whether Embiid would need to wear a face mask if he can play. He estimated that there’s a 50-50 chance that <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2773326-appreciating-joel-embiid-and-the-nbas-notable-masked-men" rel="noopener">the Phantom of the Process</a> makes a return.</p><p>“I think that’s certainly a possibility. He’s certainly done that before,” Nurse said, “but I don’t know that. Nobody’s told me that, ‘Yes, it’s gonna be a mask situation for sure.’ Nobody’s told me that.”</p><h2><b>76ers injuries continue to pile up with new Joel Embiid, Jared McCain issues</b></h2><p>At the end of the first half of the 76ers’ loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday, Embiid got inadvertently smacked in the face by Bennedict Mathurin as they each attempted to secure a rebound. He was ruled out for the rest of the game after getting checked out in the locker room by the medical staff. The fact that he could continue to play is encouraging for himself and the team, though it would certainly be risky, even with a mask.</p><p>The 76ers will be without Jared McCain for a while after it was discovered that the standout rookie has <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-jared-mccain-devastating-knee-injury-update">a tear in his left meniscus</a> that will require surgery. His absence leaves Philly without a vital scoring presence that will make it harder to climb out of its 7-16 hole.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nick Nurse provides surprising Joel Embiid injury update

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/joel-embiid-exits-game-vs-pacers-after-scary-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Joel Embiid exits game vs. Pacers after scary injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/76ers-news-Joel-Embiids-brutally-honest-outlook-on-depressing-knee-issues.jpg"></figure><h1>Joel Embiid exits game vs. Pacers after scary injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-13T18:04:08-08:00">December 13th, 6:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-13T20:18:54-08:00">December 13th, 8:18pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>UPDATE: Joel Embiid has been <a href="https://x.com/Underdog__NBA/status/1867782084133367960" rel="noopener">diagnosed with a sinus fracture</a> and will be evaluated this weekend, according to Underdog NBA.<br></p><p>Philadelphia 76ers star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-philly-gets-mixed-bag-of-injury-updates-on-joel-embiid-other-centers">Joel Embiid has been limited this season due to injury</a>, although he had made a recent return to the court. But the 76ers might have more reason for concern following their Friday game against the Indiana Pacers. Embiid left the game early due to an apparent facial injury <a href="https://x.com/PompeyOnSixers/status/1867743750124184017" rel="noopener">and will not return</a>, as per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.</p><p>Joel Embiid’s injury was not the only injury issue the 76ers will have to monitor following the game. Rookie Jared McCain also suffered a bit of a blow. He took a hard fall after being fouled and was <a href="https://x.com/DerekBodnerNBA/status/1867746112549138848" rel="noopener">unable to stay in</a> the game to shoot his free-throws, as per Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports. As a result, he will not be able to return to the game.</p><p>As of publication, the Pacers were up big by double digits against the 76ers late in the third quarter. The 76ers had recently won two games in a row, but it appears as if that mini-streak is going to be snapped.</p><h2><b>76ers injury struggles during 2024-25 season</b></h2><p>The 76ers came into the regular season hoping to be title contenders following their offseason <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-philly-makes-paul-george-splash-free-agency">acquisition of All-Star guard Paul George in free agency</a>.</p><p>But they’ve been hit hard with injuries to their Big 3 of Embiid, George and Tyrese Maxey. Embiid began the season sidelined and did not make his debut until 76ers’ tenth game of the season. He ended up playing four of five games before being sidelined again for seven straight games.</p><p>Embiid returned to the lineup last weekend against the Chicago Bulls and dropped 31 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots in a little over 32 minutes.</p><p>George also began the season sidelined after a preseason knee injury. He made his season debut during the Sixers’ sixth game of the season. He’s missed a splattering of games since then.</p><p>Maxey was the one who began the season healthy, but was sidelined after seven games due to a hamstring injury. He made his return back on Nov. 20 and has been in the lineup since.</p><p>The 76ers certainly have a chance to turn things around despite their horrific start to the regular season. Obviously Embiid’s latest issue is something they’ll have to monitor, and more information likely won’t be available until this weekend. But assuming Embiid ends up being okay, this team has looked like they make a run.</p><p>The Sixers have gone 5-5 in their last ten games and they are 7-15 overall. There is still a ton of season left to play and this group can try and grab one of the bottom playoff spots.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
20.6	6.8	4.1	1.0	0.8

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
20.6	6.8	4.1	1.0	0.8

Joel Embiid news

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