NBA notebook: Knee soreness sidelines Embiid

[February 21, 2019]  Joel Embiid's return from the All-Star break is expected to be delayed as the Philadelphia 76ers forward/center is experiencing left knee soreness, the team announced Wednesday.

In addition, an MRI on the right knee of guard/forward Furkan Korkmaz revealed a meniscus tear, with a surgical procedure a possibility to repair the injury.

According to Sixers vice president of athlete care Daniel Medina, Embiid will be out of action immediately and will be re-evaluated in one week. An MRI showed no structural damage.

The third-year player, who scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in 23 minutes of action Sunday in the All-Star Game, will undergo a treatment program "involving physical therapy and load management." The team did not disclose when the injury might have taken place.

--Washington Wizards center Dwight Howard will return to on-court workouts, the latest step in his attempt to return from spinal surgery.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Howard has been rehabbing from the surgery, performed in November, in Atlanta.

Howard, 33, has played just nine games this season for the Wizards, who signed him to a two-year, $11 million contract last July. In his limited action, he averaged 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, far below his career averages of 17.4 points and 12.6 rebounds.

--Houston center Clint Capela said he expects to be back in the lineup Thursday when the Rockets meet the Lakers in Los Angeles.

He has been out with ligament damage to his right thumb since Jan. 13. The Rockets went 9-6 in his absence.

Capela has played in 42 games, averaging 17.6 points and 12.6 rebounds.

Team Giannis forward Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers (21) shoots the ball against Team Lebron forward Lebron James of the Los Angeles Lakers (23) during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

--The Golden State Warriors do not plan to limit DeMarcus Cousins' playing time for the duration of the regular season. The team had been careful with Cousins' workload since the big man returned to the court in mid-January after recovering from a torn left Achilles tendon.

Cousins had been limited to 25 minutes per game, but coach Steve Kerr said he and his staff would be more lenient as the team returns from the All-Star break.

Cousins is averaging 13.9 points and 6.8 rebounds in 11 starts with Golden State. He has played an average of 23.4 minutes per contest.

--Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving expanded on the telephone call he made to former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate LeBron James earlier this season.

Irving broke down the phone call with ESPN's Rachel Nichols, saying he needed to contact James, now with the Lakers, in order to move forward. Irving and James led the Cavaliers to a NBA championship in 2016, but the duo could not repeat the feat in 2017 and Irving eventually requested a trade.

"Now, mind you, I have no regrets in terms of any decision I made, going about my individual journey and what I want and foresee for my career," Irving said. "But for me, it's just ... apologizing, yeah, that was a step for me, just to move forward in my life."

--Field Level Media

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