The Philadelphia 76ers will be without their MVP center Joel Embiid for Game 2 of their second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, dealing a major blow to the team's chances of evening the series.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Embiid has been ruled out due to ankle and hip injuries. The news comes as a significant downgrade from earlier in the day, when he was listed as probable for the 7 p.m. ET tipoff on May 6 at Madison Square Garden.

Embiid managed to play 25 minutes in Game 1, but the Sixers were routed 137-98 in New York. The former MVP's absence is particularly concerning given his recent health struggles. He had just returned to playoff action in Game 4 of the first round against the Boston Celtics after missing the first three games and the Play-In game against the Orlando Magic. The reason? An emergency appendectomy performed on April 9.

For basketball fans and Sixers supporters, this is a tough pill to swallow. Embiid's presence on the court transforms the team's dynamic, both offensively and defensively. Without him, the Sixers will need to dig deep into their bench and rely on a collective effort to slow down a Knicks team that looked unstoppable in Game 1.

Here's the full schedule for the remainder of the series:

Game 2: Philadelphia at New York | Wednesday, May 6 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 3: New York at Philadelphia | Friday, May 8 (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Game 4: New York at Philadelphia | Sunday, May 10 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5: Philadelphia at New York* | Tuesday, May 12, TBD
Game 6: New York at Philadelphia* | Thursday, May 14, TBD
Game 7: Philadelphia at New York* | Sunday, May 17, TBD

As the series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3, all eyes will be on Embiid's recovery timeline. For now, the Sixers face a must-win situation in Game 2—and they'll have to do it without their biggest star.