Joel Embiid is averaging 32.3 points to begin this season.
Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid will be out of the lineup again, the team announced today.
Embiid has a left mid-foot sprain that will keep him out of the 76ers’ upcoming back-to-back games: at home vs. the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday (7:30 ET, TNT) and on the road Wednesday vs. the Charlotte Hornets (7 ET, NBA League Pass). After that, the team says Embiid’s status will be reevaluated.
#Sixers center Joel Embiid (left mid-foot sprain) will miss the upcoming back-to-back games.
His status will be reevaluated in the coming days.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 21, 2022
Embiid has appeared in 12 games for the 76ers, averaging 32.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.8 blocks while shooting 52.1% overall and 27.1% on 3-pointers. While he is in the midst of a standout season, various ailments have sidelined him at times in 2022-23.
Embiid was injured late in Saturday’s loss to Minnesota when he tripped over fallen teammate Georges Niang and crumbled to the court. Embiid lay on his back as he was checked out by a trainer. He hobbled to the bench but stayed in the game.
Embiid limped through the rest of the game but had 32 points and nine rebounds and made 18 of 20 free throws.
“Hopefully, somehow it feels better, but we’ll see,” Embiid said afterward.
He missed a game on Nov. 28 because of right knee soreness, then played in the 76ers’ next game (Oct. 29) before missing four games with a non-COVID illness. He has been in a zone of late, though, scoring 32 or more points in five of his last six games, including a historic 59-point showing against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 13.
Philadelphia is already shorthanded as it will be playing without standout guard Tyrese Maxey for two weeks as he heals from a broken left foot. He suffered his injury in the 76ers’ win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 18.
The Sixers have scuffled this season amid all the absences and are just 8-8. James Harden hoped to return early next month and Maxey could miss at least a month with their foot injuries.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
