The Philadelphia 76ers received some grim news that reigning Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid had suffered a lateral meniscus injury in his left knee.
Then Tyrese Maxey quelled some of the concerns.
Embiid has been ruled out when the Sixers return home to face the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. A treatment plan is being evaluated and Embiid’s immediate future is unclear.
In the meantime, first-time All-Star Maxey scored a career-high 51 points to lift the Sixers past the Utah Jazz 127-124 on Thursday. The Sixers snapped a four-game losing streak and salvaged their five-game road trip.
“We needed this emotionally after the big fella went down and the four games we lost on this trip,” Maxey said.
It was the second game for Maxey this season with at least 50 points and he’s the first Philadelphia player to score 50 or more on the road since Allen Iverson in 2005.
Maxey was 17 of 27 from the field, including 7 of 9 from 3-point range and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line. He played like an All-Star in every way.
“I think it’s certainly well-deserved,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said of Maxey being named an All-Star. “He’s played amazing. He’s worked really hard. It was a big jump-up year for him.”
Maxey poured in 16 points in the first six minutes and went on to carry the Sixers, with help from Tobias Harris’ 28 points.
“He got us going early on and created energy for us, making big shot after big shot,” Harris said of Maxey.
In addition to Embiid, the short-handed Sixers also played without De’Anthony Melton (back), Robert Covington (knee), Marcus Morris Sr. (foot) and Nicolas Batum (hamstring). Melton and Covington have been ruled out for Saturday.
The Nets will look to rebound following a 136-120 home loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday in Kevin Durant’s return to Brooklyn.
After one game back, Ben Simmons sat out with a left knee contusion. Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) and Day’Ron Sharpe (knee) also were sidelined with injuries.
Simmons missed two months of action (38 games) and returned to post 10 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in a 147-114 victory over the Jazz.
Simmons is listed as probable to face his former team. Simmons reportedly had an MRI exam which revealed no further issues.
With a thin bench, the Nets were overwhelmed on the defensive end against the Suns.
“I’m not sure I have answers,” said Mikal Bridges, who scored 21 points. “If I did, (we) probably would have changed something up.”
Cam Thomas scored 25 points, Lonnie Walker IV added 19 and Cam Johnson had 18.
In the end, it wasn’t enough.
“Without Ben, Doe and Day’Ron, tonight (Jusuf) Nurkic was a load for us,” Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn said. “And made us pay for his opportunities.”
Since the Nets won on the road against the Suns on Dec. 13, they’ve struggled to a 6-18 record.
Durant scored 33 points and Nurkic added 28 points and 11 rebounds against the undersized Nets.
“It’s tough because with a team like that, you know they’re going to shoot well,” Vaughn said. “We had to pick our battles tonight.”
The Nets are 12-13 at home but possess a 7-15 mark on the road.
–Field Level Media
