Philadelphia 76ers, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey
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Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers hugs Tyrese Maxey #0 after a 111-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs at the Wells Fargo Center on December 23, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Philadelphia 76ers are forced to patiently wait for the return of several key players down the stretch of the 2025-2026 NBA season.
Joel Embiid is at the top of that list, as the star center has been dealing with an oblique strain. The setback occurred during the Sixers’ February 26 win over the Miami Heat.
At the time, Embiid checked in for 31 minutes. He shot 8-20 from the field to score 26 points. The star center also collected 11 rebounds and dished out four assists.
Although Embiid finished the matchup at the time, the team ruled him out for the next game against the Boston Celtics as he underwent evaluations for an actual diagnosis. What seemed like a minor setback turned into a 13-game absence at this point.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 04: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on November 04, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Before the Sixers’ recent outing against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 23, the head coach, Nick Nurse, addressed Embiid with a minor update:
via Adam Aaronson, Philly Voice: Nick Nurse says Joel Embiid was on the court again today and had a “decent workout” as part of shootaround. Another “heavier session” tomorrow.
Following the Sixers’ morning shootaround on Monday, Embiid was seen getting shots up.
Adam Aaronson
Joel Embiid, already ruled out for Sixers-Thunder tonight, is on the floor after this morning’s shootaround. He’s getting shots up.
Joel Embiid Remains Without A Timeline
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 22: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during a game against the Houston Rockets at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The Sixers have kept Embiid’s recovery timeline under wraps.
At this point, they just might be taking it day-by-day, but Nurse hasn’t been specific enough to put an educated guess on a possible return together.
Following the Sixers’ Monday night game against the OKC Thunder, which resulted in a blowout loss, the Sixers will be back on the court on Wednesday to face the Chicago Bulls.
Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers, Sixers injury report
GettyJoel Embiid #21 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers speak during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at the Wells Fargo Center on January 15, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Wednesday’s game is expected to mark the return of the veteran All-Star forward, Paul George. The sharpshooter’s suspension is lifted after he sat out for the past 25 games.
As for Embiid, his status remains unknown. The Sixers will reveal the star center’s absence on Tuesday afternoon, as they prepare for the Bulls. If Embiid doesn’t get the nod to play against Chicago, his next opportunity will come on Saturday, March 28, when the Sixers pay a visit to the Charlotte Hornets.
This season, Embiid appeared in 33 games. The star center averaged 26.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 blocks. While he hit his stride at times, the Sixers’ big man hasn’t been able to avoid setbacks.
As for the Sixers overall, they are 39-33 on the season, which is good for the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed. The Sixers are 1.0 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the sixth seed.