Joel Embiid will not play in tonight’s Game 3 versus the Brooklyn Nets. Joel has been battling knee tendinitis, and already has been playing limited minutes in the playoffs. In his absence, Greg Monroe will start at center.<doc-sep>Joel Embiid’s troublesome knee has been the source of concern in Philadelphia for weeks. While he missed a handful of games to close out the regular season due to the ailment, the Sixers have taken a wait-and-see approach to whether it would cost him any postseason games. He was able to suit up for Games 1 and 2 of the squad’s series against the Brooklyn Nets, but on Thursday night, Embiid’s knee issues finally caught up to him. The All-Star center was ruled out prior to tip due to the injury, and in a bit of a surprise, Embiid will be replaced by veteran big man Greg Monroe, who the Sixers signed on April 4. 76ers star Joel Embiid (knee) is out for Game 3 against the Nets in Brooklyn. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 18, 2019 And a plot twist: Greg Monroe will start in Embiid's place. https://t.co/uManootgWe — Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) April 18, 2019 Embiid did warm up prior to Game 3 without a brace on his leg, and as has been the case all postseason so far, the plan was for him to test out his knee before making a decision. Ultimately, that decision will cost him Philadelphia’s first road playoff game of the year. After his pregame warmup, Joel Embiid did not feel ready to go tonight. He will receive treatment throughout the game in the back. Jo pregame on his knee: "It is becoming better, slowly but surely, just have to be smart about how we handle it every single day." https://t.co/7yFFogQ9gB — Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) April 18, 2019 Currently, the series between the third-seeded Sixers and the sixth-seeded Nets is tied at one game apiece. Philadelphia responded to a Game 1 loss by blowing out Brooklyn in Game 2, and through two games, Embiid is averaging 22.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game.<doc-sep>Joel Embiid explains that he was laughing at Ben Simmons during his apology to Jarrett Allen after Game 2 and calls the situation "unfortunate." (1:19) NEW YORK -- Philadelphia center Joel Embiid sat out Game 3 of the 76ers' first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday because of left knee soreness. Greg Monroe started in Embiid's place and had nine points and 13 rebounds. The Sixers won 131-115 to take a 2-1 series lead. Sixers coach Brett Brown credited Monroe and backup center Boban Marjanovic for filling in adequately for Embiid, particularly on the defensive end. Brooklyn shot 41 percent on Thursday. "With Boban and Greg being [on the] back [line], we were confident in that," Brown said. Tobias Harris, who scored 29 points in Embiid's absence, said everyone knew they had to bring more to the game. "Towards the end of the regular season we really didn't play that well without Joel," he said. "So, for us, it was kind of hearing that he wasn't playing, a little added motivation I think for us as a group of, 'Hey, we got our best player down, we all got to pay it up and step it up and stick to the game plan and be even more focused.' "So I thought just for us to go out here and come out with that effort, I think the pieces that came in for Joel did a great job tonight. Greg had a great push out there, Boban played very well, Mike [Scott] at the 5. So we got different pieces to come along and kind of fill that void for us." Embiid, who missed 14 of the Sixers' final 24 games after the All-Star break because of left knee tendinitis, was listed as questionable coming in to Thursday's game. He was limited to 45 minutes total in the first two games of the series, which Philadelphia split 1-1 on its home floor. Embiid is questionable for Game 4 on Sunday. "It's tough," Embiid said before Thursday's game when asked about his health. "That's what tendinitis is all about. And some days you got your days, and some other days is different. So, even in the games that I play, I just try to go out there and try to play for these guys. I try to help us win the series and eliminate them. So, whatever, whatever I can do. But it's hard. I just got to keep pushing it and see how it goes." Embiid arrived in street clothes to the visitors locker room at Barclays Center about 65 minutes before tipoff and went through a light, 15-minute workout on the court before being ruled out. "It is becoming better slowly but surely," Embiid said before he went out to the court for his warm-up. "We just have to be smart about how we handle it every single day. But I'm sure these guys won't let me get on the court if there's a chance of something bad happening. So I just got to trust the process." Before the game, Embiid also reiterated his apology to Nets center Jarrett Allen, whom he struck in the face with his elbow in Game 2, drawing a flagrant foul 1 after an officials review. When he initially apologized after Game 2, he and Ben Simmons, who had a career playoff-high 31 points in the Game 3 win, both stifled laughter while they conducted a joint postgame news conference. "I was trying to be genuine, and I was actually sorry about what I did, and I actually apologized to Jarett during the game," Embiid said, adding that he texted an apology to the Nets' Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to pass on to Allen. "I kept asking him if he was OK. That was not my intent. I don't do that type of stuff. And I just wanted to make sure that he was OK. So, I did apologize to him, and unfortunately at the podium, my teammate made me laugh, and it kind of took a wrong turn. "But I was apologizing. I wasn't laughing because of not being sorry, which I am, obviously. I'm extremely sorry. That's not what I meant to do. I was just trying to be aggressive and make a basketball play, and sometimes you got to use your elbows to create separation, especially into the chest. But it was -- I probably should have been ejected. I saw the play. That was a bad play. "Like I said, that's not the type of person I am. I did apologize. It's unfortunate that I laughed. ... I guess it was surprising for [Simmons] for me to be kind of humble. Which I am humble, but when it comes to basketball, I like letting people know that I cannot be stopped and that I'm the most unstoppable player in the league." ESPN's Ian Begley contributed to this report.<doc-sep>
Matt Slocum/Associated Press Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will miss Thursday's NBA playoff game against the Brooklyn Nets due to a lingering knee injury, according to ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin. "It's tough. That's what tendinitis is all about," Embiid said of his injury, per McMenamin. "And some days you got your days and some other days is different. So even in the games that I play I just try to go out there and try to play for these guys. I try to help us win the series and eliminate them. So whatever, whatever I can do. But it's hard. I just got to keep pushing it and see how I do." McMenamin also reported Greg Monroe will take over as the starting center. Injuries have been an ongoing concern throughout Embiid's professional career. Since being taken third overall in 2014, the seven-footer has yet to appear in more than 64 regular-season games through his first five years in the league. He missed his first two full seasons due to foot issues. A knee injury limited him to 31 games in his first season on the court in 2016-17, and he missed time last season as the result of an orbital fracture. Video Play Button Videos you might like Embiid dealt with both a back injury and knee tendinitis this season, resulting in him playing in just 10 games after the All-Star break. Philadelphia (51-31) was fortunate enough to be comfortably in third place down the stretch, allowing the big man to try to get healthy for the playoffs. However, the injury lingered into the playoffs, leaving his status in question. Embiid, however, was able to give it a go when his team opened up postseason play. Having a healthy Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons provides the Sixers with star power even with Embiid's injury. With J.J. Redick, Tobias Harris and more, they have the depth to remain competitive. But losing a two-time All-Star in Embiid for any amount of time would likely hurt their championship chances. Without Embiid, the likes of Monroe and Boban Marjanovic will likely be asked to take on bigger roles.