Is Joel Embiid's conditioning a concern for the 76ers?

After missing a significant chunk of time following a procedure to repair a meniscus injury in February, it's understandable that it would take Embiid time to ramp up. This is why getting games under his belt ahead of the team's playoff run was crucial. However, if this is the version of Embiid they're going to get moving forward against the No. 2 seeded New York Knicks, an early exit may be on the horizon. 

While the Sixers as a whole struggled early to break through Miami's zone defense, things trickled down to Embiid, who finished the first half with only 10 points on 2-of-8 shooting. He responded with 11 points in the fourth quarter but only walked through the door the Heat opened. Several times late in the fourth, Miami left the Sixers star alone beyond the arc, where he was 2-of-3 in the second half after missing his only attempt before halftime. 

Embiid finished with a team-high 23 points and 15 rebounds, but a gutsy 19-point effort from point guard Tyrese Maxey and an improbable 20-point, six-three-pointer outing from Nic Batum off the bench helped the Sixers squeak by the Heat. 

The stat sheet may not show it, but Embiid was gimpy throughout and looked exhausted well before halftime. It didn't end up biting the Sixers against the Heat, but if Philly has eyes on a deep playoff run, they'll need their star player not only to play like a star but also to have enough gas in the tank to do so through a seven-game series. 

Over a week ago, head coach Nick Nurse said Embiid still had "work to do" regarding his conditioning. On Wednesday, he played 38 minutes, the most since his return from injury. While it came in a victory, it's not hard to see that the star isn't yet in tip-top shape, which should be a concern for the Sixers heading into a series with a Knicks team that's as physical as the Heat but more talented.