Joel Embiid will miss Saturday’s game against Detroit Pistons, while Paul George is available
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’ home game against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, while Paul George (knee injury management) is available to play, the team announced Saturday evening.
The team’s official designation came 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. It will be the first time George plays in both games of a back-to-back all season, while Embiid has never played in both games on consecutive nights this year.
“Everybody can see that [George is] moving better and playing better and playing a lot more minutes,” coach Nick Nurse said during Saturday’s pregame news conference. “[There] hasn’t been any types of restrictions at all.”
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.”
When asked Saturday about how he handles a situation like Embiid’s, Nurse said he “just [tries] to keep it all basketball-focused.” The coach added that he relies on the medical staff to inform him which players are available for each game.
“He was at shootaround yesterday,” Nurse said of Embiid. “He was excellent in the game yesterday, was really a great teammate and focused yesterday ... I think last night was one of his best games of the year, on both sides of the ball.”
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 Minnesota, when he totaled 19 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks. 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, Andre Drummond will start at center against Detroit All-Star Jalen Duren.
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.
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.