76ers coach Nick Nurse attributed the decision to keep Embiid on the bench for the final quarter so that they wouldn't disrupt the the team's rhythm. “That group was just playing so well together and had good feel for the game at that point, and just wanted to let them roll with it," Nurse told reporters.

Embiid played just 39 games last season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. The 76ers announced in early February of that season that he had undergone surgery. Embiid came back in early April, was part of the 76ers’ playoff run and then won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team last summer.

Coach Nick Nurse explains his decision not to play Joel Embiid in the 4th quarter in the loss to the Brooklyn Nets.