Going into an afternoon battle against the Indiana Pacers, the Philadelphia 76ers had to figure out how to approach the Joel Embiid-LeBron James strategy, considering it's the first leg of a back-to-back set.
James was left off the injury report, so he'll play against Indiana with a chance to sit against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night. As for Joel Embiid, he was ruled out as early as Saturday night. The good news? That knee scare against the Toronto Raptors didn't add a new designation for the star center. Embiid is simply out due to injury management.
It's a questionable look on the surface. The Pacers are clearly the better team of the two opponents, and they possess two seven-footers, while the Sixers won't have a true big man outside of the two-way center, Tacko Fall. You would think the Sixers need Embiid more in this one.
But there are a few positive ways to look at it, as Embiid's lack of a presence on Sunday is inevitable.
Where are the positives? An early-season break
It's been a rough few years for Embiid, who couldn't shake his knee concerns for the past two years. In 2024-2025, Embiid didn't see the court until the 10th game. He was out for a stretch after four appearances. Last year, he played in six of the first nine games, then missed nearly a month of action.
Knock on wood, but Embiid has been pretty lucky in the health department for now by his standards. He played in 11 of 13 games so far, and hasn't missed consecutive matchups. With Sunday off, he'll get a decent three-day break. It's mid-November. No need to operate like it's crunch time.
Slump buster vs. Brooklyn?
You obviously want to see Embiid play the more challenging matchup. Two seven-footers on the other side, along with a team that plays at a high pace. The first time Embiid faced the Pacers this year, they missed Ivica Zubac. It's a tough matchup, especially considering Embiid has struggled with offense as of late.
Embiid's efficiency is way down this year. He's shooting just 37.4% from the field. Last week, he had a game where he went scoreless from the field. Against Boston, he shot 2-for-9. Embiid started to pick it up against Toronto in the second half, but 41.2% is still low by his standards. The big man needs a true get-right game. Brooklyn is a better bet for that. Throughout his career, Embiid has averaged 28.4 points, while shooting nearly 50% from the field against the Nets.
The front office will get another reminder
Everybody knows the Sixers need help at the center position. They need size and rebounding, especially now that Ariel Hukporti's out for the year, and Adem Bona is down with his second setback of the 2026-2027 NBA season.
The 76ers might be waiting another month at least before they add another body at the center position, but they'll continue to play with the "help wanted" sign up. Without Embiid, Indiana's front court just might give the 76ers another reminder that, if possible, a move should be made to acquire more size soon. Whether that's shaking up the two-way situation, making a trade, or moving some pieces around on the main roster, the 76ers could be served with another reminder on Sunday.
Add us as a preferred source on Google