NBA playoffs 2026: A quick exit leaves Philadelphia facing the same offseason dilemma
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PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid spent the final quarter of Game 4 on the bench, watching the New York Knicks complete a 30-point rout that ended the Philadelphia 76ers’ season on Sunday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The sweep, sealed before the fourth period even began, marked Philadelphia’s sixth second-round departure in nine postseason trips since Embiid’s 2016 debut. New York’s victory followed an 11-day roller-coaster in which the 76ers trailed Boston 3-1, rallied for three straight wins to advance, then failed to take a single game from the Knicks. Embiid missed Game 2 of the New York series with right hip and ankle injuries and never regained form, finishing the postseason with two sweeps on his résumé.
Injuries again define Embiid’s playoffs
Embiid’s latest setback came three days before the regular-season finale, when an emergency appendectomy sidelined him until Game 4 against Boston. The operation added to a long list of playoff ailments that already included two orbital fractures, knee tendinitis, knee sprains, Bell’s palsy and multiple knee surgeries.
Despite the procedure, Embiid produced perhaps the best three-game stretch of his playoff career, averaging 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists over Games 5-7 to eliminate the Celtics for the first time in 44 seasons. The momentum evaporated against New York, where Jalen Brunson’s Knicks capitalized on Embiid’s limited mobility to win two games in Philadelphia by double digits.
Young core offers hope—and questions
Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, selected third overall after Philadelphia’s 24-58 campaign in 2024-25, averaged 16.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his first postseason. His 34-point NBA debut and 30-point, 10-rebound Game 2 against Boston placed him alongside Tim Duncan and Magic Johnson in rookie playoff history.
Tyrese Maxey, an All-Star for the second year in a row, set career highs with 28.3 points, 6.6 assists and 1.9 steals while leading the league in minutes. Head coach Nick Nurse praised both guards for maturity and leadership far beyond their years.
Expensive stars, limited flexibility
Philadelphia’s payroll remains concentrated in Embiid and Paul George, whose contracts total more than $200 million over the next two seasons. Since George signed his four-year, $212 million max deal in 2024, he, Embiid and Maxey have logged just 36 games and 742 minutes together—22 percent of the club’s contests—due to injuries and George’s 25-game suspension for violating the league’s antidrug policy.
With only six players under contract and the 22nd pick in June’s draft, the 76ers sit roughly $14.5 million below the luxury-tax threshold, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Re-signing free agents Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes would likely push the team back into tax territory and leave little room for roster upgrades.
Offseason outlook
President of basketball operations Daryl Morey has limited assets to reshape the squad around Maxey and Edgecombe. Philadelphia traded rookie Jared McCain at February’s deadline to escape the tax, receiving Oklahoma City’s first-round pick and three second-rounders; McCain’s strong showing with the Thunder has drawn criticism from fans.
Asked about the path forward, Embiid said, “Ownership, front office, players, coaches—everybody has just got to get better.” The 2023 MVP added that he believes his knee issues are behind him and plans a full summer of training. “I hate losing,” he said after Sunday’s defeat, “but we found something as a group to make sure I’m better positioned next year to play a lot of games.”
Source: ESPN
