What happened: Joel Embiid has been ruled out for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. The 76ers updated their 1 p.m. injury report to list Embiid as OUT with a right ankle sprain and right hip soreness. Embiid was unable to participate in the team's morning shootaround.

Why it matters: Philadelphia, already down 1-0 after a Game 1 blowout, now faces the prospect of falling into a 2-0 hole on the road without its franchise centerpiece. Embiid, who only recently returned from appendicitis surgery during the first-round series against Boston, is the engine of the Sixers' offense and defense. Losing him for a pivotal road game against a rested Knicks team puts Philadelphia's season on the brink.

What to watch: Watch for Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to absorb a heavier creation load, and for the Sixers' frontcourt rotation behind Embiid. Embiid's status for Game 3 in Philadelphia will be the next major checkpoint.