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TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Mike Brown of the New York Knicks speaks to the media at Knicks Training Facility on September 23, 2025 in Tarrytown, New York.
The Knicks are already leading the series heading into Game 4; however, the injury update remains crucial. Philadelphia will have Joel Embiid available for the game, whereas New York is without OG Anunoby once again.
Such a blend alters the atmosphere of the duel, despite the fact that the Knicks are just a victory away from clinching the series.
Embiid has been upgraded to available for Sunday’s Game 4 after being listed probable with right hip soreness. The official NBA injury report also listed him as probable earlier in the day, and CBS Sports later reported that he was “good to go” for the matchup.
That means Philadelphia gets its most important interior force back in a game it desperately needs.
That is quite disappointing to Knicks fans. However, the team has already demonstrated its ability to win even without Anunoby, defeating Philadelphia in Game 3 to lead the series 3-0.
Knicks Receive Big Joel Embiid Update Before Game 4 Clash
Embiid coming back really matters because he changes how Philadelphia’s offense looks. Still, the Knicks have demonstrated that they can handle his presence. Before Game 3 when he came back after missing Game 2, he put up 18 points in 35 minutes.
For the Knicks, the availability of Embiid is not so much a threat but a test. Yes, he will allow Philadelphia to hurt the Knicks more inside, but this series has exposed the bigger problem for the 76ers.
Even with Embiid playing, they have not managed to slow down Brunson and Mikal Bridges, who along with the Knicks have been executing really well at the end of the clock. New York has also out-rebounded its opponents in the playoffs, which makes Philadelphia getting their star center back less impactful.
The team from New York still seems to have the upper hand. While Embiid’s return might make the fourth game more competitive, it doesn’t alter the main thing: The Knicks have shown that they are capable of winning against Philadelphia even when he is playing, and the series score indicates that the Knicks are still the more well-rounded team.
The Knicks have a solid reason to be optimistic about this matchup because of how Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson can actually team up against Embiid.
Towns provides New York a big man that can draw Embiid further from the basket, whereas Robinson will be able to show the physicality on the boards and guarding the paint.
To me, that two-big combination actually gives the Knicks a very good opportunity to exhaust Embiid through four quarters, especially considering that New York managed to contain him well enough to create a 3-0 advantage in the series.
The absence of OG Anunoby is still a disadvantage, but the Knicks have already demonstrated that they can cope with it.
Jayesh Pagar Jayesh Pagar is a writer at Heavy Sports, covering the New York Knicks and other NBA teams. He brings four years of experience across digital sports media, including NBA, WNBA, college basketball, and college football. He covered as the Knicks beat writer for ONSI and has written for PFSN, Sporting News, and ClutchPoints. More about Jayesh Pagar
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