<p>PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid won’t play in Sunday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies in order to recover one night after returning to the lineup following a 10-game absence because of a bone bruise in his left knee.</p>
<p>Embiid had 24 points and eight rebounds in Saturday’s 122-113 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The four-time All-Star and MVP candidate was admittedly rusty and finished 6 of 14 from the field, including 0 of 4 from 3-point range, and 12 of 17 from the free-throw line. He blamed a bulky brace on his left knee for causing him to feel out of rhythm.</p>
<p>He is averaging 29.8 points and 11.3 rebounds in 32 games this season.</p>
<p>Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said the decision to sit Embiid against Memphis was an easy one.</p>
<p>“Any player who has been out three weeks and then plays in a game, you probably don’t play him in a (back-to-back); it’s just smart,” Rivers said. “This one was pretty simple. This wasn’t a hard decision for any of us.”</p>
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