Joel Embiid was ruled out for Game 2 of the second-round NBA playoffs series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks due to a right ankle sprain and right hip soreness, according to the NBA. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Embiid “woke up with a bunch of soreness” and was unable to participate in the shootaround, leading to the decision to sit him out for the game.

Knicks Extend Lead with Key Comeback

The Knicks won Game 2 by a 108-102 margin, extending their series lead; the Sixers, without Embiid, struggled offensively, shooting just 1 for 9 in the final 6:52 minutes of the game. Jalen Brunson led New York with 26 points, shooting 9 of 21 from the field. O.G. Anunoby added 24 points. While Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 20 and 20 points, respectively.

Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 26 points, but the team was unable to close the gap in the final minutes; a missed three-pointer by Paul George with 25 seconds left proved major, and Miles McBride sealed the win with a free throw. The game featured 25 lead changes, the most in an NBA playoff game since 2015.

Embiid’s Absence and Sixers’ Rotation

Embiid had played through pain in the first game, scoring 14 points and grabbing four rebounds despite taking a hard hit to the abdomen. He has averaged 25.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in the postseason. Coach Nick Nurse described Embiid’s reaction to missing the game as “really disappointed.”

Without Embiid, the Sixers will rely on Andre Drummond and Adem Bona in the center position. Nurse indicated he may bring in additional players like Jabari Walker to help with the team’s fatigue, especially after the Sixers looked exhausted in Game 1’s 39-point loss.

How to Watch and Global Broadcast Times

Game 2 was played at 8:00 PM in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Fans in Bolivia and Venezuela could watch at 7:00 PM, while viewers in the United States could tune in at 6:00 PM (Eastern Time), 5:00 PM (Central Time), and so on. In Argentina, the game was available exclusively on Disney+ via ESPN’s streaming service. Subscription options included Disney+ Standard ($10,699 per month), Premium ($15,299 per month), and a Standard plan with ads.