76ers Make Call on Joel Embiid’s Playing Status vs. Hawks on Wednesday

Heading into their matchup against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers anticipate being shorthanded at the center position. Once again, Joel Embiid is out.

Wednesday will mark the second straight game Embiid will miss. His absence is due to swelling in the knee.

Embiid’s most recent setback occurred last Friday as the Sixers hosted the New York Knicks. In a matchup that became the Sixers’ worst loss of the 2023-2024 season, Embiid was seen favoring his left knee throughout the matchup. After the game, he assumed he would be fine moving forward, but Embiid hasn’t participated in a game or practice since his 36-minute shift against the Knicks.

On a slightly positive note, Embiid was spotted getting up shots after practice on Monday afternoon. Despite not participating in the session and having his knee wrapped, Embiid was still in attendance and worked on what he could.

Since November, Embiid has seen his fair share of absences. After starting the season off with 14 straight appearances, Embiid went inactive for the first time one month into the season. After returning for two games, he missed his first set of consecutive games on November 29 and December 1.

When Embiid returned from an illness on December 6, he appeared in nine straight games, averaging 34 minutes on the court. The big man was having a dominant December, putting up 40 points per game while averaging 13 rebounds.

His progress derailed after the team’s December 22 matchup against the Toronto Raptors. During Philly’s ten-point win, Embiid suffered a sprained ankle. As a result, he missed the team’s four-game road trip to close out 2023.

The big man returned for the first two games of last week’s slate. He totaled 61 points and 25 rebounds as the Sixers collected one win and one loss. After missing last Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz, the Sixers dropped their second-straight outing.

The Sixers will look to avoid dropping three games in a row for the first time this season on Wednesday night in Atlanta. They’ll have to do so without their MVP-winning big man.