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Knee injury to keep Embiid out of Rising Stars, Skills Challenge

USA Today Sports

Rookie center Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers will have to wait at least another year before partaking in on-court events held over NBA All-Star Weekend.

Dealing with a torn meniscus in his left knee, Embiid won't be able to compete in the Rising Stars game on Friday night, or the Skills Challenge on All-Star Saturday, the league announced Wednesday.

Nonetheless, he will still travel to New Orleans to catch the festivities live, according to CSN Philly's Jessica Camerato.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Abrines will replace the 7-footer in the Rising Stars contest, while Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic will now be one of eight participants in the Skills Challenge.

Abrines joins Thunder forward Domantas Sabonis on the World roster, making them the first rookie tandem from a team with a winning record to participate since 2009.

Embiid has missed Philadelphia's last nine games, and the team has gone 3-6 during that span despite a current three-game win streak. He's not with Philadelphia for its matchup with Boston on Wednesday night at TD Garden.

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