This isn't the news Philadelphia 76ers fans wanted to see. After exiting Game 4 and not returning in what turned out to be a win for the Washington Wizards, the news didn't get any better on Thursday for Joel Embiid.

Via the 76ers, Embiid is out for Game 5, and listed as day-to-day with a small lateral meniscus tear in his right knee.

While the injury has the 76ers all-star listed as “day-to-day” it doesn't sound great knowing that he has a meniscus tear in a knee that has been banged up before.

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Embiid is a legitimate MVP candidate this year even after missing a chunk of the season due to injury. He's the pulse of the 76ers and without him, an increased workload will be put on the shoulders of guys like Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons.

It's a huge blow for Philly but thankfully for them, at least in the short term, they do have a 3-1 lead over the Washington Wizards in their best-of-seven matchup. All the 76ers will have to do is win one of the next three games to advance to the second round.

Long term, if Embiid misses significant time, it's a lethal shot to any title hopes that the 76ers have. Along with the Bucks and the Nets, Philly is the other squad lumped in by so many to take home the Eastern Conference. Without Embiid, it would become almost an impossible task.

Right now, the 76ers need to focus on getting that last win against the Wizards and then they'll be keeping their fingers crossed that rehab and time off will help get Embiid back on the court.