Joel Embiid played through the sore knee Monday night. And the curses from the sold-out crowd.
What he couldn’t overcome was the endgame incompetence from his team.
Philadelphia lost a contest it had all but won, a 104-101 first-round Game 2 heartbreaker against the Knicks before 19,812 at the Garden.
Embiid — listed as questionable with a left knee injury, and still in doubt minutes before tipoff — eventually suited up and didn’t just start, but starred.
Showered by chants of “F–k Embiid! F–k Embiid!” the center poured in 34 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
But with his Sixers leading by five with 28 seconds left to play, they folded. They gave up a Jalen Brunson 3-pointer, and watched Tyrese Maxey turn the ball over.
Even after forcing a missed 3-pointer by Donte DiVincenzo, Embiid & Co. couldn’t corral the rebound.
Naturally, they let the Knicks outfight them for it, and this time DiVincenzo didn’t miss his next look from deep for the lead.
It was a bitter end to Embiid’s night, but he was unbowed.
“We’re gonna win this series. We’re gonna win this,” he said. “We know what we’ve got to fix. We did a better job today, so we’re gonna fix it. We’re the better team and we’re gonna keep fighting.”
He’d been forced off the court just before halftime of Game 1.
He felt good enough to start Game 2.
But the 2023 MVP — who missed 29 games after sustaining a torn left meniscus Jan. 30 at Golden State — has clearly not been 100 percent since returning April 2.
He sat out April 7 against the Spurs, then was forced off the court shortly before halftime five days later against the Magic only to return and play the second half.
Embiid did the same thing in Game 1, aggravating the injury late in the second quarter and limping off only to come back and start the third.
But after dominating with 18 points and five rebounds on 6-for-11 shooting in the first half, he was immobile in the second.
He had 11 points but had just three boards and shot 2 of 11 after returning, boxing out but rarely jumping.
Embiid was much better Monday. He had to stay under control, with both the Knicks and their fans seemingly looking to instigate with him.
Embiid helped the Sixers run out to a double-digit lead.
He looked far more mobile and spry than he did in the second half of Game 1 after aggravating his knee injury.
With the score tied at 55-all, he ran the floor to get a couple of free throws, then hit a tough 14-foot turnaround for a four-point Philadelphia lead. They still led until the late collapse.
