A struggling Philadelphia 76ers team returns to the court on Sunday night to face the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Sixers have been hoping for a boost as they are on a multi-game skid, and the presence of Joel Embiid would surely help, as he's been out of the mix for some time.
After closing out a matchup on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, the Sixers have a quick turnaround to face the Timberwolves.
Will Joel Embiid be available to help his team out?
Philadelphia 76ers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Injury Report
76ers
Embiid is no stranger to missing time. Earlier this season, he dealt with knee soreness, which resulted in nine-straight absences. After returning in late November, he was relatively healthy before the Sixers reached the final stretch before the All-Star break.
Before the break, Embiid missed two games in a row. He hasn't been cleared to play in the first two games following the break. During that stretch of absences, the Sixers have lost four in a row, once again learning the major impact that Embiid has on the team.
Unfortunately, he’s not going to be back for the team to help them close out the back-to-back set. After getting reevaluated this weekend, Embiid still doesn’t have clearance from the medical staff to return.
Timberwolves
The Timberwolves will find themselves shorthanded on Sunday night.
One of Embiid's most notable front-court competitors, Rudy Gobert, is missing the game as he's serving a one-game suspension after collecting another flagrant foul earlier this week.
Although Gobert and the Wolves attempted to appeal the decision, the NBA wouldn't reverse it. Gobert will be out for the action.
Naz Reid could be another notable loss for the Timberwolves. This season, Reid has appeared in 57 games, picking up 26.3 minutes of action per game. Reid has posted averages of 14.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He remains one of the most productive reserves in the game. He hasn't missed a game this season, but the Timberwolves aren't ruling a night off out just yet.
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