Sixers’ Joel Embiid to play against Pistons

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Joel Embiid will play in the 76ers’ game Monday night against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.

The Sixers center and backup point guard Raul Neto both missed Monday morning’s shootaround at Seaholm High School with illnesses. Neto was listed as probable for the game and Embiid was questionable. But both Sixers are available to play.

The news comes one day after the Sixers announced that reserve guard Matisse Thybulle will be sidelined indefinitely with a right knee sprain and bone bruise. The rookie will be reevaluated in two weeks.

» READ MORE: Matisse Thybulle out indefinitely with a bone bruise and sprain of his right knee

The statuses of Embiid and Neto for Monday’s game were determined after their pregame workouts.

Embiid, a two-time All-Star, is averaging 23.1 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks.

He was sidelined Oct. 26 against the Pistons with a sprained right ankle. Then he served a two-game suspension (Trail Blazers on Nov. 2 and Suns on Nov. 4) for fighting Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns. He missed the Nov. 13 road game against the Magic to rest. Embiid also missed the Sixers’ Dec. 7 game against the Cavaliers at Wells Fargo Center with a bruised left hip. And he missed the Dec. 15 game against the Nets at the Barclays Center with an upper respiratory illness.

The Sixers take a record of 21-10, the fifth-best in the Eastern Conference, into their matchup with Detroit (11-19).

The Pistons have lost four straight games.