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After Joel Embiid fell to injury during Game 4 between the Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards, the Wizards were able to steal a win away from the Sixers. Washington avoided the sweep and aims to achieve a second win in a row to stay alive in the NBA Playoffs.
Embiid has been ruled out for Game 5, per Adrian Wojnarowski. Terrible news for the Sixers, as they lose their superstar player who has led them to the postseason as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.
Sixers center Joel Embiid has a small meniscus tear in his right knee and will be day-to-day, team says. He's out for Game 5 tonight.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 2, 2021
Washington will do their best to take advantage, as Embiid's absence is detrimental to Philadelphia's success. Not only have they lost his scoring, but they lost his interior defense as well, making it easier for Washington to play to their strengths.
It should still be a close game, the Sixers still have the tools to compete and end the series. Even so, the Wizards are determined to make a run and will do everything they can to steal another win away from Philadelphia. With that said, here are three bold predictions for the Wizards-Sixers Game 5 matchup.
Bradley Beal & Russell Westbrook combine for 60+ points
It's no secret that Washington thrives in the backcourt. Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook are the leaders of this team. The ball moves through them, as they give Washington their best chances to win. With Embiid out of the lineup, look for Beal and Westbrook to get aggressive in the paint.
Taking advantage of the mismatch will be high on Washington's priority list. We saw a taste of what the Wizards can do with Embiid out of the mix for the Sixers. Look for Beal and Westbrook to potentially light it up on Wednesday night, as they could score at will against a hobbled 76ers lineup.
Sixers raise their three-point percentage
Three-point shooting isn't a huge strong suit for Philadelphia, but that could change on Wednesday night. The Sixers will change up their approach, as they have to find a new way to facilitate the offense. Luckily for them, they have a few shooters that can get hot. Danny Green and Seth Curry can knock them down from anywhere on the court. In addition, George Hill, Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, and Matisse Thybulle can all hit the three.
Philadelphia should be looking to their bench to help propel this team forward into the next round. After shooting 31.6% from beyond the arc, the Sixers role players could step up and elevate the three-point shooting.
Wizards win and bring the series to 3-2
Anything can happen now that Embiid is ruled out for Game 5. Rather than making this an easy sweep, the Sixers are now in danger of allowing Washington to make a comeback. The stars are aligned for the Wizards to bring the series closer, as Embiid's injury could even up the odds.
This should still be a close game throughout, as the 76ers have the depth to be competitive. They also still have Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris to lean on, who are both excellent players in their own right. Even so, Washington could prove to be too much to handle right now, which may cause problems for Philadelphia.
