76ers star Joel Embiid out for Game 1 vs. Celtics: Can Philly survive ...

Sixers star Joel Embiid did not play in Game 1 on Monday vs. Boston due to a right knee injury. Here’s what you need to know:

Embiid missed the final game of the Sixers’ first-round sweep of the Nets with what the team called a right knee sprain. The injury, suffered on April 20, is considered to be more serious than a Grade 1 LCL sprain, league sources told The Athletic. The MVP finalist has been able to do some individual spot-up shooting the past several days and will be evaluated daily, the sources said. He averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season for the 76ers. The Sixers defeated the Celtics 119-115 in Game 1 to take a 1-0 series lead.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

How this changes Boston’s strategy

This is simply a monumental advantage for the Celtics. This makes it even easier for them to stay small and just break down Philadelphia’s door by driving to the hoop and racking up layups and free throws. Besides the obvious fact that removing the potential MVP from the equation makes this an easier win in Game 1, it’s clear that if Embiid plays in this series he is going to be far from 100 percent. The Celtics already match up well against him, but they can really expose him in transition and in the pull-up game in the pick-and-roll.

The path to the finals is typically paved with injury and things are falling into place for the Celtics. The Bucks are already out and the Sixers are starting the series on their back foot. The irony is that the two teams whom they could see in the conference finals gave them fits this year. If there’s anything we learned from the Hawks’ Game 5 win without Dejounte Murray, it’s that Embiid being out won’t guarantee the Celtics take care of business. Would they win by 30 or lose by seven? Who knows. — Weiss

How will Philadelphia fare without Embiid?

The Sixers are 12-5 without Embiid this season, including a closeout win of Brooklyn in Game 4 of the first round. Never say never, but this is not the series for them to enter shorthanded.

It could be the same situation that the Sixers faced a year ago. They went into a second-round series against Miami hoping to steal one of two road games, as Embiid attempted to get back from a concussion and facial fracture. The Sixers came home down 2-0 after two uncompetitive games, eventually losing in six. They split the games that Embiid played in, but by the time he returned, their margin for error was slim.

Realistically, the Sixers enter the Boston series decent-to-heavy underdogs even if Embiid was healthy. It still remains to be seen when Embiid returns and how effective he will be, but the Sixers are starting this series from a major position of weakness. — Hofmann

How the 76ers can compete without Embiid

It’s still unclear when Embiid will return to the lineup. But if the Sixers are forced to try and steal a game in Boston without the likely league MVP, they will have to follow the formula they’ve used 17 other times this season.

That starts at the top. James Harden will have the keys to the offense like he did in his Houston days. The veteran point guard will need to be more effective as a scorer than he was in Round 1. Tyrese Maxey, who has struggled against Boston perhaps more than any other team, will also be called upon to take on a greater scoring load. Tobias Harris was the best player on the floor in the Sixers’ Game 4 win over Brooklyn, and while he’s more of a 3-and-D option when everyone is healthy, he can provide bullyball isolation in a pinch.

And then there are the big men taking Embiid’s place. Paul Reed has established himself as the best backup center Embiid has had in a while, a switchable defender who can stay in front of guards. Reed has made a lot of progress making offensive reads and decisions in recent months as well, gaining the trust of Harden in particular. Rivers also has the option of going to P.J. Tucker as a small-ball 5, in an effort to juice the Sixers’ spacing. The other options are Montrezl Harrell and Dewayne Dedmon.

Rivers and the Sixers have been an excellent shorthanded team all season. But with Embiid not available in Boston, this will be the ultimate test. — Hofmann

Backstory

It’s unclear when Embiid suffered the injury, although the likeliest play was when he got tangled up with Brooklyn wing Cam Johnson in Game 3. Embiid limped frequently throughout the contest, and said afterward that he was fine, but admitted that he “took a lot of shots.”

He averaged 20 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.3 blocks per game in the first three games of the series, seeing constant double teams from Brooklyn’s defense. Maxey led all Sixers with 21.3 points per game in the series, while Harris added 20.3 points per game and Harden averaged 8.8 assists per contest.

The Celtics defeated the Sixers in three of their four games this season.

Required reading How does Sixers-Celtics series change if Joel Embiid is out with injured knee? Three Joel Embiid burning questions for Sixers-Celtics second-round playoff series Celtics-Sixers preview, predictions and more

(Photo: Wendell Cruz/USA Today)