Amid boos and jeers, 76ers’ Joel Embiid struggles in Game 1 loss to the Knicks

Embiid shot just 3-of-10 from the field in the first half and went into the break with 12 points, three rebounds and an assist.

He added just two more points via free throws before checking out at the 6:03 mark of the third quarter, with his Sixers trailing, 93-64.

The score remained out of reach, and Embiid did not return. The rest of the starters checked out before the fourth quarter.

Injuries — including a second knee surgery — limited Embiid to a total of 57 games over the past two seasons, including 38 in 2025-26.

Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy in April, causing the former NBA MVP to miss the first three games of the Sixers’ first-round series against the Boston Celtics.

But Embiid excelled upon returning, averaging 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists to help Philadelphia rally back from a 3-1 series deficit and defeat the second-seeded Celtics in seven games.

However, the Knicks boast a distinct size advantage compared to that of Boston, making them a tougher assignment for Embiid.

Towns picked up two fouls against Embiid in the first 5:05 of Monday’s game, sending him to the bench in favor of Robinson.

Robinson fouled Embiid shortly after that, prompting Knicks head coach Mike Brown to deploy little-used third-string center Ariel Hukporti for a spell.

“You have to try to be as physical as you can without fouling,” Brown had said ahead of Game 1.

“Embiid’s size with his skill, and [point guard Tyrese] Maxey’s speed with his skill, is second to none when you’re talking about the combination of two guys with those things. But you’ve got to mix up coverages and, like I said, to a certain degree you hope that they miss.”

And miss, Embiid did.

It was an all-around rough night for Embiid, who was left doubled over in pain after a second-quarter collision with Mikal Bridges.

Towns, meanwhile, continued his torrid play, including drilling a third-quarter 3-pointer over Embiid that put the Knicks up, 90-60 — and ultimately helped them take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.