PHILADELPHIA (AP) \u2014 Joel Embiid is one more loss away with the 76ers from getting the entire offseason to rest from his litany of injuries.<\/p>\n
Embiid \u2014 as he has done throughout his career \u2014 resolutely returned to the floor, this time with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip that cost him one game to try and make the Eastern Conference semifinals with the New York Knicks into a competitive series.<\/p>\n
Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George all fell short in crunch time with the series back at home.<\/p>\n
Embiid scored 18 points and was the only one of the Sixers\u2019 vaunted Big Three to shoot a free throw while Jalen Brunson led the Knicks to a 108-94 win<\/a> on Friday night for a 3-0 series lead.<\/p>\n Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n The 76ers went 13 of 16 from the line while the Knicks made 23 of 32, the kind of discrepancy that opened some eyes in the locker room. Maxey, George and their combined $400-plus million contracts failed to get to the line. Embiid was just 4 of 6.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess it\u2019s good when New York wins,\u201d Embiid said.<\/p>\n Embiid struggled through a short night in the Knicks\u2019 137-98 romp in Game 1,<\/a> scoring 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting before the starters were benched with the game out of reach.<\/p>\n Embiid had been listed as probable to play in that game and the Knicks repeatedly took advantage of his lack of mobility to create open shots.<\/p>\n He had been expected to play Game 2 but was ruled out hours beforehand.<\/p>\n Embiid had an appendectomy late in the regular season. He returned during Game 4 of Philadelphia\u2019s first-round series against Boston and helped the 76ers overcome a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Celtics.<\/p>\n Embiid and the Sixers have a more treacherous path as they try to win four straight games against the Knicks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t back down,\u201d Embiid said. \u201cYou know, 3-1, this is tougher. Just going with the understanding we can\u2019t get it all back in one game. One win, focus on the next one, win the next one, that should be the mentality. That\u2019s the mentality we had last week.\u201d<\/p>\n