Concern for Joel Embiid.
The reigning NBA MVP limped out in the fourth quarter of the match between his Philadelphia franchise and Golden State on Tuesday night.
A forced end to the match after Warriors winger Jonathan Kuminga fell heavily on his left knee as the two men battled for a loose ball.
The interior then writhed in pain on the ground before leaving the floor.
Already uncertain because of knee discomfort before the match, the 29-year-old Cameroonian, who had only scored 14 points in 30 minutes, must now undergo an MRI.
A prolonged absence could deprive him of his chances of retaining his MVP title because to do so he must play at least 65 regular season games.
It would also undermine its training, currently fifth in the NBA Eastern Conference dominated by Boston.
His team did not communicate further about his injury on social networks, contenting itself with relaying the defeat (119-107) in California.
Joel Embiid went to the locker room after getting tied up with Jonathan Kuminga pic.twitter.com/bkOREMkd7F
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 31, 2024
The 29-year-old is part, like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, of the pre-selection of 41 players for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris announced by the American federation a week ago.
Joel Embiid put an end to the suspense in October by choosing to join the ranks of Team USA, vying for a fifth gold medal in a row in France this summer, turning his back on Cameroon and France.
The Blues had long hoped to benefit from the reinforcement of one of the best players in the world after the latter acquired a tricolor passport.
A vain hope.