Joel Embiid will miss his second straight game due to right knee soreness when the Sixers face the Detroit Pistons in NBA Cup Group Play action on Friday night, while rookie guard VJ Edgecombe is questionable with a back spasm, according to the team's injury report unveiled on Thursday:
Embiid, whose previous four absences in 2025-26 have all been due to planned management of his left knee, reported soreness in his right knee on the morning of the Sixers' win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. He was ruled out for that game and underwent imaging, which Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said on Tuesday night revealed no structural damage. Nurse said Embiid was day-to-day.
As the Sixers said after Thursday's practice, Paul George remains out for Friday's game. The nine-time All-Star has yet to play this season as he recovers from an arthroscopic procedure performed on his left knee in July, with the final steps of his recovery focused on strengthening his left quadricep.
In positive news, Dominick Barlow appears set to return from a nine-game absence caused by a right elbow laceration. Asked if there was any new information on Barlow on Thursday, Nurse kept it short and sweet:
"Yes," Nurse said. "He's back."
MORE: Sixers weekly preview
Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam
Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice