Philadelphia 76ers' Postseason Campaign In Peril As Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons Suffer Injuries

KEY POINTS

Joel Embiid's status is uncertain after he suffered an ankle injury during the Philadelphia 76ers' loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday
Ben Simmons is likely out for the season as he is set to go undergo surgery to fix his left knee
Embiid and Simmons have spearheaded the Sixers' charge over the last couple of seasons

The Philadelphia 76ers’ hopes to go deep into the Playoffs just took a massive blow after Joel Embiid suffered an injury on Sunday. The star center’s status remains uncertain as of posting, but with just about a week before the Playoffs begin, the concern is starting to escalate as there is a huge possibility that the Sixers would enter the postseason sans two of their best players.

Embiid went down in the first quarter of the Sixers’ 124-121 loss the Portland Trail Blazers after suffering a left ankle injury. The Cameroonian big man did return in the second half but remained on the bench as he was not fielded back inside the court.

It has been an unfortunate turn of events for Philly as Embiid’s apparent injury came at the heels of a report that Ben Simmons is likely out for the rest of the season. The 6’10 guard is set to leave the Orlando bubble to go under the knife to fix his left knee, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

“Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is likely to miss the rest of the season,” Wojnarowski wrote. “Simmons will have a loose body removed from his left knee in the coming days, the team announced Saturday.”

The “loose body” is said to be a result of a left patella subluxation - a situation where the kneecap popped out of place but returned on its own – during the Sixers’ win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

The Sixers have not completely ruled out the chance for Simmons to return inside the bubble; however, the team recognizes that the stars would have to align for the All-Star guard to make a late comeback in Orlando.

“Only a deep Sixers playoff run could keep a fleeting hope of his return alive this season, sources said. Even then, his return from the procedure -- expected to take place outside of the Disney campus in the coming days -- is largely expected to come next season,” Wojnarowski added.

“The Sixers are preparing now for a postseason run that will come without Simmons, one of the league's most talented and versatile weapons.”