ATLANTA – Joel Embiid’s suspension for pushing a reporter means he’s set to make his debut against the team that last knocked him out.

The MSG villain served the first of his three-game punishment Wednesday in Inglewood, California, against the Clippers, and the Sixers have two more games — against the Lakers and Hornets — before a Nov. 12 home game against the Knicks.

It is also the opener of the NBA Cup, but Jalen Brunson didn’t want to look beyond Wednesday at State Farm Arena.

“Focus on Atlanta,” Brunson said before a 121-116 loss to the Hawks. “Focus on the Atlanta Hawks.”

Following the Sixers’ loss to the Grizzlies on Saturday, Embiid got into a locker room altercation with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes.

Embiid disagreed with Hayes’ column criticizing his lack of availability and yelled at the reporter for mentioning his late brother in the piece before shoving him.

Joe Dumars, the NBA’s disciplinary director, levied the penalty, writing: “Mutual respect is of the utmost importance to the relationship between players and media in the NBA. While we understand that Joel was offended by the personal nature of the reporter’s original version of the column, interactions on both sides must remain professional and never become physical.”

Even before the confrontation, the Inquirer had removed the portion of the column that referenced Embiid’s brother.

Embiid, who hasn’t played yet due to alleged knee issues, had previously courted controversy this season by announcing he likely won’t play back-to-backs even if healthy.

In his last appearance, Embiid was eliminated by the Knicks in the opening round of the playoffs, but not before injuring center Mitchell Robinson with a dirty takedown move. Robinson subsequently underwent surgery on his ankle and has yet to return.

Robinson hasn’t spoken to the media since the surgery in May, but said on a podcast during Embiid’s summer, “He doesn’t have to grab my leg, though.” If I had done it I would have been out and suspended. I would have been out of there.”

Now Embiid is suspended, but he will return in time for the Knicks.

Reserve guard Cam Payne missed his second straight game with a strained hamstring on Wednesday.

The Knicks didn’t fare well in his previous missed game — a loss to the Rockets on Monday — when Thibodeau played the entire second half against Brunson.

Rookie Tyler Kolek got Payne’s minutes in the first half in Houston, scoring six points in 8:44 in Wednesday’s loss.

As expected, newcomer Matt Ryan will not immediately be part of the rotation, according to Thibodeau.

“He just got here (Wednesday),” the coach said. “We have to bring him in, maybe that opportunity will come. We know that if we have to shoot, we have an answer there.

Ryan, a sharp-shooting wing, signed a one-year deal on Tuesday.