Joel Embiid will not participate in the Philadelphia 76ers’ matchup against the Orlando Magic due to ongoing management of a left knee injury. This game is set to take place at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Monday night.
Injury Updates for the 76ers
Joining Embiid on the bench will be forward Dominick Barlow, who is also ruled out for Tuesday’s game against the Washington Wizards. Barlow is undergoing a procedure to treat a laceration on his right elbow and is expected to be re-evaluated later this week.
Embiid’s Performance and Previous Injuries
- Embiid has played in the first two games of the season.
- He scored 20 points with 7-for-11 shooting in the last game against the Charlotte Hornets.
- In his season opener, he managed only 4 points on 1-for-9 shooting against the Boston Celtics.
- Embiid logged 20 minutes, 7 seconds of play against the Hornets, adhering to a minute restriction.
Embiid’s absence against the Magic is in line with the team’s cautious strategy regarding his health. Last season, he participated in only 19 games before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April. This marked his second surgery on that knee within 14 months and his third knee surgery in nine years.
Impact on the Team
The 76ers currently hold a record of 2-0, while the Magic are at 1-2. The team is preparing to face the Wizards, who also hold a record of 1-2, the following night, making the decision to rest Embiid less surprising.
Barlow, who has been averaging 7.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, suffered his injury during the first half of the recent game against the Charlotte Hornets. He did not return after halftime.
Other players sidelined include Paul George, recovering from left knee surgery, Trendon Watford, dealing with left hamstring tightness, and Jared McCain, who is recovering from right thumb surgery.
As the Sixers look to maintain their early-season momentum, they are doing so without two critical contributors in Embiid and Barlow.
