“There is going to be an investigation,” Joel Embiid’s SUDDEN absence from primetime rivalry against Nikola Jokic escalated to Adam Silver

Joel Embiid was largely expected to lead the Philadelphia 76ers against Nikola Jokic's Denver Nuggets.

“There is going to be an investigation,” Joel Embiid’s SUDDEN absence from primetime rivalry against Nikola Jokic escalated to Adam Silver

Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. (Image via SI)

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone had a few telling words for Joel Embiid, after the 76ers big man sat out of the recent game between the two teams. The Denver Nuggets cruised to a 111-105 victory in the absence of Embiid, riding on big performances from 4 of their starters.

Nikola Jokic returned with 26 points and 16 assists in addition to 7 rebounds, on a night that his team dominated proceedings right from the start. Part of the NBA’s ‘Rivalry Week,’ the game between the two recent MVPs was expected to be a cracker.

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However, that did not happen, as Embiid was not listed as injured in the official injury list for the game. Instead, his status was ‘available,’ and yet the player sat out completely from the game.

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After the loss, Malone asked for the league to simply launch an investigation into the matter:

I don’t know how you go from being active, available, to out. I’m sure the league will do their due diligence. Because that’s frowned upon. And we’ve had situations this year where we’ve talked to the league, and they told us if a player goes from active to out, there’s going to be an investigation.

Malone then seemed ot sarcastically mock Embiid, and claimed that he had watched the game the player apparently got injured in:

I’m sure that Joel—he hurt his knee in the Indiana game, I guess real. We watched the game … so I’m sure he’s hurt.

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Hence, it is fair to say that the Nuggets’ coaching staff does not believe Embiid was actually injured. Instead, they think that there were other reasons at play that led to the player being left out.

Philadelphia 76ers lose out against Nuggets in Joel Embiid’s absence

There is no doubt that Joel Embiid is the biggest, most important player for the 76ers this year. Vying with some scary teams for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the 76ers have made the kind of moves their rivals have.

On one hand, the Boston Celtics look like a new machine, with Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to count on. The Milwaukee Bucks may have only moved for Damian Lillard and have recently sacked Adrian Griffin.

Jokic against the 76ers. (Image via SI)

However, a combination of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo means that the Bucks are also going to be vying for the top spot in the East. Add to that a Miami Heat side that has also finally moved for Terry Rozier, and the 76ers need their big man to be fit and firing.

Whether the NBA decides to investigate his absence in the latest matchup remains to be seen. However, fans will be hoping that the apparent injury is merely a niggle, and he returns to his familiar form and fitness in the coming days.

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