Sixers’ Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Nico Batum will not play vs. Boston Celtics

BOSTON — Joel Embiid will miss his second consecutive game with an illness when the 76ers face the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.

The reigning MVP is not with his teammates in the arena and did not participate in this morning’s shootaround. Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey, Nicolas Batum (hyperextended right index finger). Kelly Oubre Jr. (fractured rib) and Danuel House Jr. (left quad bruise) were also out.

This comes after Embiid’s absence was felt in Wednesday’s 124-114 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center.

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The Sixers (12-6) are 0-2 this season in games without Embiid. Both opponents — the Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves — built commanding first-quarter leads by attacking the paint in Embiid’s absence.

The Timberwolves led 37-20 at the conclusion of the first quarter on 60% shooting en route to the 112-99 victory. The Pelicans took a 39-24 lead into the second quarter on 78.7% shooting.

Embiid is the NBA’s leading scorer at 32.0 points per game. He’s also ranked fifth in rebounds (11.5) and 10th in blocks (1.9).

» READ MORE: Sixers expect the injured Kelly Oubre Jr. to return sometime next week

The Celtics (14-4) will be without Kristaps Porzingis (left calf sprain). The 7-foot-3 center also missed Boston’s 117-107 victory over the Sixers on Nov. 15.

By not playing, Embiid will have to wait to erase memories of that game. He flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 20 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. But he wasn’t his dominant self.

The Celtics outscored the Sixers by 25 points while he was on the floor. Embiid also committed a fourth-quarter turnover that led to Boston’s game-clinching 16-6 run. This marked the sixth time that he has been minus-25 in his career. Three of the six times have come against the Celtics.