Sixers News: Reason for Joel Embiid's Second Half Absence Revealed

Why did Joel Embiid miss the second half against Brazil?

Aug 6, 2024; Paris, France; United States centre Joel Embiid (11) shoots against Brazil small forward Leo Meindl (14) in the first quarter in a men’s basketball quarterfinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

On Tuesday, Team USA returned to the court for its quarterfinal matchup against Brazil at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid remained in the team’s plans after finding himself out of the rotation two games prior.

By the end of the first half of Tuesday’s game, it was clear Embiid was putting together his best outing of his Olympic run. Through the first half of action, Embiid scored 14 points on the offensive end, making all but one of his shots from the field. He nearly notched a double-double in a little over ten minutes of action by grabbing seven rebounds.

As good as Embiid was in the first half, he was noticeably absent for the final two quarters of the matchup. Fortunately, his presence didn’t affect Team USA negatively as they continued dominating to close out the quarterfinal round with a victory and a ticket to the semifinals.

Still, there were questions about Embiid’s absence. After the game, AP’s Tim Reynolds reported that Embiid was experiencing ankle discomfort after the first half. When the former MVP alerted head coach Steve Kerr about it, the Golden State Warriors head coach decided to hold the center out.

According to Reynolds, the setback doesn’t sound serious.

One of the biggest question marks surrounding Embiid ahead of his Olympic run was how he would hold up physically. Embiid has had plenty of bouts with injuries over the years. Prior to the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the big man missed a chunk of time after undergoing surgery to correct a meniscus injury.

The Philadelphia 76ers on SI show is available on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon streaming platforms.

Throughout his run this summer, Embiid has held up well physically. He played in all but one of Team USA’s games, with his lone absence being non-injury related.

There aren’t any definitive updates on Embiid’s status moving forward, but it’s something to keep an eye on as Team USA reaches medal territory.

Read More Philadelphia 76ers on SI

Former Sixers Veteran Sounds Off on Ben Simmons saga

Paul George Accomplishes Rare NBA Feat

Marcus Morris Reveals Thoughts on Potential Reunion With Sixers