Joel Embiid dribbles while guarded by Xavier Tillman of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter of a game at TD Garden. Adam Glanzman / Getty Images
Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid has been ruled out for the team’s nationally televised game against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night due to right knee soreness, the Sixers announced.
The knee causing him soreness is not the one he has had significant issues with for the better part of the last two seasons.
Embiid last played on Saturday night against the Toronto Raptors, scoring 29 points in 26 minutes in a 130-120 Philadelphia win. He did not play Sunday night against the Detroit Pistons, sitting out the second game of a back-to-back set as part of his regular injury management. Tuesday night’s game, which will air on NBC, will be the first one he will miss this season that is not a scheduled absence. Embiid has been playing under a minutes restriction all season, which started at 20 minutes and has increased to 25 as of late.
Embiid has played well so far this season, particularly offensively, averaging 19.7 points in 23.3 minutes per game.
Without him on Sunday night, the Sixers started veteran Andre Drummond and brought second-year big man Adem Bona off the bench. Drummond had 17 points and 12 rebounds in the defeat to Detroit, which means he could once again earn the starting nod.
Without Embiid, star guard Tyrese Maxey will again handle a significant share of the offensive responsibility. Maxey currently leads the NBA in minutes played and is among the league leaders in usage rate. The Sixers are still waiting for star forward Paul George to make his first appearance of the season after he underwent offseason knee surgery.
This will be the third time the 76ers (6-4) and the Celtics (5-6) meet this season. The teams have split the first two matchups.
Nov 11, 2025
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