The Philadelphia 76ers dropped their injury report for Tuesday’s massive tilt against the Boston Celtics, and man, it’s what’s *missing* from that report that has everyone talking: Joel Embiid is NOT on it, despite his ongoing plantar fasciitis management in his right foot. This is a highly anticipated matchup with Boston, and you know the Sixers will be hoping Embiid brings his A-game.
Embiid’s Fight: Minutes, Misses, and the Star-Studded Struggle
Listen, we all know Embiid’s been battling this plantar fasciitis. It hasn’t sidelined him for any games this season, which is huge, but the Sixers have been super careful with his minutes. Remember that win back on November 2? Both Nick Nurse and Embiid himself admitted he was on a minutes restriction that night. They’ve been upfront, saying this is one of those things that’ll come and go, and the team just has to manage it.
But here’s the kicker: this dude has been struggling hardcore. On the last two games of their recent road trip, Embiid shot a combined 7-of-28 from the floor. That’s rough, right? He’s also been pretty vocal about not quite fitting in with this “new, star-studded roster,” feeling like “everything is crowded” in their half-court offense. Talk about some pressure! This Tuesday night, against Jaylen Brown’s old team, on national television, is the perfect stage for him to finally figure it all out and snap out of this funk. The Sixers are definitely hoping for it.
Bona Out, Walker Stepping Up, and Nurse’s Big Picture
Now, it’s not all sunshine and no Embiid on the injury report. The Sixers are still dealing with some frontcourt issues. Adem Bona is officially out for his third straight game after he picked up a cervical spine sprain on November 4 in Detroit. That’s a bummer, for sure.
But here’s a silver lining, kinda. Jabari Walker has been playing some seriously strong basketball at backup center. Head Coach Nick Nurse, on the road trip, had nothing but praise for Walker. He straight up said, “Played good. Same. He just goes out there, plays hard, plays well, and has an impact. He just seems to play well every time he hits the floor.” Pretty high praise, right? But don’t get it twisted, Nurse also made it clear that the starting backup job is still Bona’s when he gets back. When asked if he’d play Walker over Bona, Nurse’s response was a firm, “I’m not at that point yet, no.” So, Walker’s balling out, but it sounds like Bona’s spot is safe once he’s healthy.
So, Tuesday night, it’s the Sixers versus the Celtics in what’s shaping up to be a can’t-miss game. For Embiid, it’s more than just another matchup; it’s a chance to show he’s managing that foot, break out of this shooting slump, and finally gel with his teammates. This is it, folks. We’re talking heated rival, national TV spotlight. Can Embiid find his rhythm and lead his team to a big win? You know we’ll be watching every single play.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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