With Embiid out, ‘rookie of the year’ McCain stars

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers announced during Friday’s game against Brooklyn that Joel Embiid was dealing with swelling in his left knee and, in addition to sitting out the Nets game, would sit out Sunday against the LA Clippers.

Embiid wasn’t originally listed on the injury report Friday morning after he played 35 minutes and scored 35 points with 11 rebounds in a loss at Memphis on Wednesday. He was then put on the injury report with left knee injury management, with the team saying that he was present for shootaround but didn’t participate.

Later, 76ers coach Nick Nurse said his expectation was Embiid would warm up, at which point a determination would be made on his status. But Embiid never took the court and was ruled out about 30 minutes before tipoff.

The 76ers’ announcement came at the start of the third quarter and noted that Embiid was receiving treatment, with an update on his status to be provided early next week.

Philadelphia also will be without Paul George on Sunday against his former team, after he sustained a bone bruise in his left knee Wednesday at Memphis. An MRI showed no structural damage, and George was ruled out for at least two games.

76ers star guard Tyrese Maxey, meanwhile, returned Wednesday after sitting out two weeks because of a hamstring injury. He played 20 minutes against the Grizzlies and was on pace to see that number bumped into the mid-20s Friday night.

Philadelphia entered Friday with the worst record (2-12) in the NBA after being expected to contend in the Eastern Conference after the signing of George in free agency. So far, Embiid, George and Maxey have been on the court for six minutes together — all in Wednesday’s loss to Memphis.