Philadelphia 76ers superstar big man Joel Embiid was clearly not 100 percent in Game 1 against the Brooklyn Nets. His Sixers teammate Jimmy Butler could tell.
While Embiid finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds in 24 minutes, the Sixers' best player shot only 5-of-15 from the field and didn't look like his usual dominant self on the court.
While speaking to reporters postgame, Butler said he wants Embiid to be healthy rather than playing hurt.
Sixers' Jimmy Butler on ailing Joel Embiid after Game 1 loss to Nets: "Yeah, he can help us, but at the same time he can hurt us if it gets worse. Like I said, don't get me wrong: We definitely want Jo out there, but we definitely want him healthy." pic.twitter.com/WHNiAfLWqo
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 13, 2019
The Sixers listed Joel Embiid as doubtful for the game. The team announced roughly 15 minutes before Game 1 started that Embiid was going to play.
Embiid missed 13 of the Sixers' final 23 games of the regular season with left knee soreness. He wasn't able to get in a groove in Game 1. As a result, the Nets won by a final score of 111-102.
Jimmy Butler stepped up big time while Embiid was trying to get comfortable. The four-time All-Star finished with a playoff career-high 36 points in 38 minutes. His heroics, though, weren't enough to propel Philly to a win.
Game 2 of this series is on Monday. Embiid will try and get as much treatment as he can until then. Philadelphia can't afford to lose Game 2 and go down 0-2 heading to Brooklyn. Hopefully, Embiid feels a lot better in Game 2.
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