Joel Embiid returns from sore ankle and hip, but he’s not enough for Sixers as Knicks go up 3-0

The Knicks defeat the 76ers, 108-94, to take a 3-0 series lead.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) —

Joel Embiid is one more loss away with the 76ers from getting the entire offseason to rest from his litany of injuries.

Embiid — as he has done throughout his career — resolutely returned to the floor, this time with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip that cost him one game to try and make the

Eastern Conference semifinals

with the New York Knicks into a competitive series.

Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George all

fell short in crunch time

with the series back at home.

Embiid scored 18 points

and was the only one of the Sixers’ vaunted Big Three to shoot a free throw while Jalen Brunson led the Knicks to

a 108-94 win

on Friday night for a 3-0 series lead.

Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia (

3:30 ET, ABC

).

The 76ers went 13-for-16 from the line while the Knicks shot 23-for-32, the kind of discrepancy that opened some eyes in the locker room. Maxey, George and their combined $400-plus million contracts failed to get to the line. Embiid was just 4-for-6.

Embiid struggled through a short night in the Knicks’

137-98 romp

in Game 1, scoring 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting before the starters were benched with the game out of reach.

Embiid had been listed as probable to play in that game and the Knicks repeatedly took advantage of his lack of mobility to create open shots.

He had been expected to play Game 2 but

was ruled out

hours beforehand.

Embiid

had an appendectomy

late in the regular season. He

returned during Game 4

of Philadelphia’s

first-round series

against Boston and helped the 76ers

overcome a 3-1 deficit

to eliminate the Celtics.

Embiid and the Sixers have a more treacherous path as they try to win four straight games against the Knicks.

“We can’t back down,” Embiid said. “You know, 3-1, this is tougher. Just going with the understanding we can’t get it all back in one game. One win, focus on the next one, win the next one, that should be the mentality. That’s the mentality we had last week.”