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Sixers’ Joel Embiid is questionable vs. Wizards with non-COVID-19 illness; Tyrese Maxey’s option picked up

The All-Star center also sat out Friday’s victory against the Toronto Raptors as he rested his right knee. He returned Saturday to spark a win in Chicago.

Joel Embiid of the Sixers during the game against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. On Saturday, his last-minute heroics saved the day against the Chicago Bulls.
Joel Embiid of the Sixers during the game against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. On Saturday, his last-minute heroics saved the day against the Chicago Bulls.Read moreMark Blinch / MCT

WASHINGTON — Joel Embiid is questionable for Monday’s game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena with a non-COVID-19 related illness, the 76ers said.

In other team news, the Sixers announced Sunday that they exercised the fourth-year option for Tyrese Maxey and the third-year option for Jaden Springer. The move keeps the players under contract through the 2023-24 season.

Regarding Embiid, the All-Star center also sat out Friday’s 112-90 victory against the Toronto Raptors as he rested his right knee. However, he returned Saturday and scored a game-high 25 points in a 114-109 win over the Chicago Bulls.

» READ MORE: Sixers-Bulls takeaways: Doc Rivers coaching through a tough time, James Harden’s late presence, and lack of sustained ball movement

Embiid hit the game-winning, 25-foot three-pointer with 18.1 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, he made a defensive play at the rim to alter an opponent’s shot. All that came after he missed a pair of foul shots with 61 seconds remaining in a tie game.

The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder is averaging 27.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. He scored a season-high 40 points in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 22.

» READ MORE: Tyrese Maxey is learning the Sixers need him to be more selfish: ‘Isos are good for you, too’

The Sixers (3-4) have won three of their last four games after the starting the season with three straight losses. The Wizards (3-3) lost to the Boston Celtics, 112-94, on Sunday night at TD Garden.

The deadline to pick up the options for Maxey and Springer was Monday.

Maxey is slotted to make $4,343,920 next season due to being the 21st overall pick by the Sixers in the 2020 NBA draft. Springer will make $2,226,240 as the 28th pick in the 2021 draft.

These moves come as no surprise.

Maxey, a third-year guard, is one of the Sixers’ best players with career averages of 13.7 points, 3.3 assists and 2.6 rebounds. Springer, a second-year guard, is averaging 1.8 points and 1.0 rebounds in four career appearances.