Photo: Philadelphia 76ers/Twitter

Joel Embiid was a late scratch for the Philadelphia 76ers’ game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday afternoon, citing left knee soreness. The decision was reportedly made by the 76ers training staff after observing Embiid’s warm-up for the game. This absence marks Embiid’s 11th missed game of the season.

Notably, under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, players must participate in at least 65 games to maintain eligibility for postseason awards, including the NBA MVP, a distinction Embiid is vying to defend.