76ers vs. Blazers: Joel Embiid’s Playing Status on Monday

On Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Portland Trail Blazers are set to battle it out for the second and final time this season.

Heading into the matchup, the Sixers listed their star center, Joel Embiid, as questionable due to left knee soreness.

Hours before the Sixers and the Blazers are set to battle it out, Embiid was ruled out officially.

Embiid’s knee soreness has been lingering for quite a few weeks now. After the Sixers defeated the Toronto Raptors on December 22, Embiid missed the Sixers’ four-game road trip, which started with a matchup against the Miami Heat on Christmas Day.

After the Sixers closed out 2023 with a loss against the Chicago Bulls on the road, Embiid made his anticipated return to the court in the rematch against the Bulls at home on January 2.

The big man’s presence lasted just two games. As the Sixers struggled against the New York Knicks on January 5, Embiid experienced knee inflammation after the 36-point loss. While the Sixers weren’t worried about the severity of Embiid’s setback, he still missed the team’s next three games.

On January 15, Embiid returned to the court for a 31-minute shift against the Houston Rockets. He produced a 41-point double-double and then scored another 41 points against the Denver Nuggets the following night.

Embiid played six games in a row after dealing with knee concerns for the past month. Unfortunately, in the matchup against the Indiana Pacers last Thursday, Embiid tweaked his knee during the game. While he was on pace to play against the Denver Nuggets in the rematch on Saturday, the star center was a late scratch.

According to 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, the Sixers’ medical staff didn’t like the way he was moving while warming up. Therefore, he was ruled out for the night, joining a crowded injury report for Philadelphia.

The trend will continue on Monday night in Portland as Embiid is once again set to miss the Sixers’ matchup.