NBA
Will Joel Embiid play in 76ers - Knicks game 2 today? When will Julius Randle return?
An injury forced Sixers star Embiid to miss part of the second quarter of game 1, which Randle wasn’t involved in.
The New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers are gearing up for the second game of their 2024 NBA playoffs first-round series, which the Knicks lead 1-0 after a 111-104 win at Madison Square Garden on Saturday (20 April). Tom Thibodeau’s team achieved the win without Julius Randle and there is a chance both teams could be missing their star player for game 2.
When will Julius Randle play again for the Knicks?
Power forward Randle will definitely be missing once again for the Knicks. New York’s second-leading scorer has been out of action since the end of January after dislocating his right shoulder against the Miami Heat. While there was hope he would be back in time for the playoffs, it was reported at the start of April he had undergone season-ending surgery which will keep him out of the entirety of the playoffs.
This has led to speculation that Randle has played his last game for the team, with some close to the Knicks suggesting he and center Mitchell Robinson could be traded for a star player in the offseason.
Although New York’s form tailed off in the immediate aftermath of his injury, they have found a way to win without Randle of late, ending the regular season with five victories in a row, which enabled them to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
What injury did Embiid suffer in game 1 against the Knicks?
While Randle’s absence against was expected, the 76ers have potentially been dealt a huge blow by an injury picked up by Joel Embiid in game 1.
The 30-year-old scored 29 points, bagged eight rebounds and six assists in the weekend defeat at the Garden, despite hobbling during the second half. The Sixers center hit the floor after hurting his left knee in the second quarter and missed its final stages before soldiering on for the remainder of the game.
The Sixers’ record with and without Embiid
Embiid has now been listed as questionable for game 2, although Sixers coach Nick Nurse revealed to the media on Sunday his star man was “feeling pretty good”. That suggests there is still a chance he could play in Monday’s game, or, failing that, in game 3 in Philadelphia on Thursday.
The 2023 NBA MVP has had an astonishing impact on his team this season, with Philadelphia boasting a 32-9 record with him but struggling to a disappointing 16-27 without him.
While Randle is the only player listed on the Knicks’ injury report for game 2, the 76ers will also be without small forward Robert Covington and guard De’Anthony Melton.