76ers' Joel Embiid Briefly Left Game 1 vs. Knicks After Apparent Injury on Epic Dunk

Patrick Andres | Apr 20, 2024

Apr 9, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts. / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

In a matter of seconds Saturday, Philadelphia 76ers fans went from ecstasy to agony.

During Game 1 of the 76ers' first round playoff series against the New York Knicks, 76ers center Joel Embiid successfully tossed an alley-oop to himself. Notably, it was Embiid's first dunk attempt since tearing his meniscus earlier this season—an injury that forced him to go under the knife in February.

Immediately after the ferocious dunk that cut the Knicks' lead to three, Embiid crumpled to the ground. Wearing a shaken expression, Embiid eventually rose to his feet and walked tentatively to Philadelphia's locker room—where he remained for the duration of the first half.

Joel Embiid went back to the locker room after an apparent injury. pic.twitter.com/66CZtqG9z3

— ESPN (@espn) April 20, 2024

Things quickly unraveled for the 76ers after that, and New York took a 58–46 lead into halftime.

Nevertheless, Embiid exhibited extraordinary toughness and returned from out of the locker room with just seconds left on the halftime clock to start the third quarter for Philadelphia.

Embiid, long an injury magnet despite his obvious talents, has never played more than 68 games in a regular season. The year he did—2022—he won his first scoring title, and a year later he was named the NBA's MVP.