Joel Embiid (right knee injury management) is questionable to return to action when Sixers host the Orlando Magic in NBA Cup Group Play action on Tuesday night, according to the team's initial injury report for the game issued on Monday evening, which also lists Tyrese Maxey (shoulder) and Paul George (ankle) as probable. VJ Edgecombe (calf) has been ruled out:
Embiid, who last played on Nov. 8, missed four of the Sixers' first 10 games in 2025-26 due to a predetermined management plan for his left knee, where he underwent arthroscopic surgery in April as a result of continued troubles. But in what is now a streak of seven straight absences, the last six have come as a result of difficulties with Embiid's right knee.
Embiid reported soreness to the team on the morning of Nov. 11, was subsequently ruled out for that night's game and has not played since. On Tuesday evening, the Sixers listed Embiid as doubtful to play in Wednesday night's game, but he was downgraded to out on Wednesday afternoon. He has exclusively been listed as out since until Monday evening's report.
On Monday afternoon, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Embiid remains day-to-day and that the team is still waiting for doctors to give Embiid clearance to play. But Embiid was once again a full participant in practice, the team said, though the rigors of the Sixers' work on Monday were unclear.
Maxey received treatment on his shoulder after the Sixers' loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday, a game in which took a hit to the shoulder early on. Asked on Monday how he was feeling, Maxey said "great."
Edgecombe experienced the first absence of his NBA career on Sunday when he sat out due to left calf tightness, an issue Nurse indicated was minor. Edgecombe underwent imaging which came back clean, Nurse said, adding that the Sixers opted to be cautious by holding him out of Sunday's game. It appears that precaution will last at least one more game.
The expected listings: Oubre and Bona, both already ruled out for this contest. Oubre will miss at least another handful of games, while Bona is set to be re-evaluated again in between Tuesday's game and the Sixers' next game on Friday night in Brooklyn.
"I'm feeling great. I'm definitely going to be on the court back very soon," Bona told PhillyVoice on Monday afternoon. "The team and I, we're doing everything to get back as soon as possible, and stronger."
Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam
Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice