Joel Embiid will miss Saturday’s game against Detroit Pistons
Embiid’s planned absence comes less than 24 hours after he publicly criticized the Sixers for ruling him out of Wednesday’s victory. Meanwhile, Paul George is probable to play.
Joel Embiid (oblique injury management and illness) will miss the 76ers’ Saturday home game against the Detroit Pistons, while Paul George (knee injury management) is probable to play, per the NBA’s 1 p.m. injury report.
The team’s official designation comes after both veterans expressed hope following Friday’s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves that they would be able to play on the second night of a back-to-back. If George plays, it will be the first time he plays in both games of a back-to-back this season. Embiid has not played in a back-to-back this season.
“I want to see how I feel in the morning, and go from there, honestly” George said after Friday’s game. “I absolutely, 100%, want to play tomorrow.”
All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey (finger) and veteran wing Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow), who also recently returned from weeks-long injury absences, are available to play.
» READ MORE: ‘[Ticked] off’ he did not play at Washington, Joel Embiid directs all questions to Daryl Morey
Embiid’s planned absence will be less than 24 hours after he publicly criticized the Sixers (43-34) for ruling him out of Wednesday’s victory at the Washington Wizards with an illness, after he missed the team’s morning film session. Embiid said he was “[ticked] off” to find out online that he would not be playing, and that any further questions should be directed at president of basketball operations Daryl Morey.
“I guess these guys decide to let me play or not,” Embiid said when asked if there was a chance he could play Saturday. “So whatever they tell me, I guess I got to follow.”
Embiid acknowledged that his right oblique — which he strained in a Feb. 26 win against the Miami Heat and then missed about a month — got hit during Friday’s win over Minnesoata. The former NBA Most Valuable Player also has dealt with a shin stress reaction and issues with both knees this season. He has averaged 26.7 points on 49.1% shooting, along with 7.6 rebounds, four assists, and 1.1 blocks in 37 games played.
Without Embiid, Adem Bona and Andre Drummond are the contenders to start at center.
George has been terrific since returning from a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. In five games, he has averaged 27 points on 50% shooting (including 42.6% on 10.8 three-point attempts), along with 6.8 rebounds, four assists, and 3.2 steals.
The Pistons (56-21) boast the Eastern Conference’s best record, but are playing without All-Star guard Cade Cunningham due to a collapsed lung. Detroit All-Star Jalen Duren is listed as questionable with an illness.
The Sixers remain in a tight Eastern Conference postseason race, entering Saturday with the same record as the Toronto Raptors but holding the tiebreaker for sixth place because of division record.
After Saturday’s game, the Sixers have one back-to-back remaining this season: Thursday at the Houston Rockets and Friday at the Indiana Pacers.