PHILADELPHIA — 76ers middle Joel Embiid missed his third straight recreation Friday evening, a 123-115 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, due to a sprained left foot.
He has sat out 23 instances this season.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse mentioned earlier than the sport that though the All-Star continues to be bothered by the foot harm, the crew would not imagine it’s a long-term concern.
“It has been aggravated, for certain,” Nurse mentioned. “That is why he is not taking part in. Once more, he is day-to-day. He practiced yesterday. Hoping that perhaps he’d have the ability to go right now. Not fairly prepared. Hoping he can go for the subsequent one.”
The 76ers play Sunday at Orlando.
Embiid has performed in simply 13 video games this season. The Sixers are 7-6 with Embiid and 8-15 with out him — add that up, and it is a 15-21 file for crew that boasts All-Stars Paul George and Tyrese Maxey however is out of the Japanese Convention playoff standings.
“We’re positively higher with Joel on the market, that is a truth,” George mentioned. “We’re higher with the massive man again within the lineup with us.”
George has been spotty within the first season of his four-year, $212 million contract. He has struggled with accidents and his shot in his first season in Philly and hasn’t fairly discovered the constant groove anticipated out of the nine-time All-Star. In opposition to New Orleans, George had one bucket and three fouls at 8:13 of the second quarter. Within the second half, George hit 5 3s and scored 23 of his 25 factors.
Maxey scored 30 factors in 40 minutes and continues to log heavy minutes attempting to hold the scoring load in Embiid’s absence.
“It simply appeared to me like we did not have fairly the pop energy-wise we wanted the total recreation,” Nurse mentioned.
The 2022-23 NBA MVP, Embiid is averaging 24.4 factors and seven.9 rebounds this season — under his profession averages. He additionally has missed video games attributable to left knee soreness, a sinus fracture and a three-game suspension for an altercation with a reporter within the locker room.
Nurse mentioned Embiid’s knee has been “fairly good” and the primary challenge is with the foot.
Embiid’s absence put a damper on a recreation that was additionally lacking Pelicans large man Zion Williamson due to a suspension for violating crew insurance policies.
And the 76ers performed with out Andre Drummond (left toe sprain), Kyle Lowry (proper hip pressure) and KJ Martin (left foot).
The Sixers dominated out rookie Jared McCain for the remainder of the season Thursday following left knee surgical procedure final month on a torn meniscus.
The 20-year-old McCain spent one season at Duke earlier than the Sixers made him their 2024 first-round draft choose. McCain — the sixteenth choice — was off to a implausible begin and had averaged 15.3 factors in 23 video games. He began eight video games and was an instantaneous fan favourite largely to amassing practically 5 million followers as a TikTok sensation.
“He was not solely an ideal choose by our group, he was actually impacting the crew in a constructive method,” Nurse mentioned. “I believe any rookie picked in that vary that is available in and bolts to the highest of all rookies is a credit score to the participant and group, as properly.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.