With two days off in between games, the Philadelphia 76ers held a practice session on Saturday, February 28. The star center, Joel Embiid, was not a part of the session.
According to Kyle Neubeck of PHLY, Embiid reported soreness in his right side following the Sixers’ recent outing against the Miami Heat.
UPDATE: After an MRI, Joel Embiid suffered a strained right oblique. He is out for the next three games, according to team officials.
During the game, Embiid was seen dealing with discomfort in the first half. At a point, he went back to the locker room to get checked out. However, it wouldn’t be long before the star center returned to the court for the Sixers.
The Sixers landed a positive sign when Embiid managed to finish the game. He even hit the dagger three that helped put the Miami Heat away once and for all.
By the end of the game, Embiid finished with 31 minutes played. He shot 40% from the field, scoring 26 points. It was a double-double outing for Embiid, who came down with 11 rebounds. The big man also dished out four assists.
The Sixers defeated the Heat 124-117.
Will Joel Embiid Face The Boston Celtics?
GettyJoel Embiid suffered a setback in the Philadelphia 76ers’ matchup against the Miami Heat earlier this week.
The Sixers don’t have an official status on Embiid against the Celtics for their March 1 matchup just yet.
Following the Saturday practice session, the Sixers announced that Embiid’s evaluation with the medical staff is ongoing. His status will be determined later.
Lately, Embiid has been dealing with multiple issues. Knee soreness has been a consistent concern throughout the year. That was the case again before and after the All-Star break.
Following a February 7 Sixers win over the Phoenix Suns, Embiid missed his second game in February. He was out for two games in a row for the first time since early November.
Two absences in a row turned out to be five consecutive. Fortunately, Embiid returned to the court for the Sixers’ February 24 game against the Indiana Pacers.
In his first action back, Embiid checked in for 26 minutes. He shot 11-17 from the field to score 27 points. He also came down with six rebounds, blocked one shot, and produced five assists.
As Embiid attempted to work his way back from his recent stretch of absences, the big man experienced a shin-related issue as well. It seems the temporary exit from the Miami matchup is another ailment to add to the list for the big man.
This season, Embiid has made 33 appearances after playing in just 19 games during the 2024-2025 NBA season. The star center has produced 23.8 points per game, while shooting 49% from the field. He is also coming down with 7.5 rebounds per game and producing 3.9 assists per outing.
With Embiid on the floor, the Sixers have achieved an impressive record of 21-12. When Embiid doesn’t play, the Sixers have won just 46% of their games.
Heading into the Boston matchup, the Sixers are 33-26, which places them sixth in the Eastern Conference. They have a three-game winning streak going, with two of those wins including Embiid.
The Sixers will travel to Boston on Saturday. They will tip off with the Celtics at 8 PM ET on March 1.
76ers Get Concerning Joel Embiid News Before Celtics Game