76ers vs. Bulls: What Happened to Joel Embiid?

Why didn't Joel Embiid return to the court on Wednesday?

*UPDATE: Sixers added that Joel Embiid is dealing with mild right calf tightness. Doc Rivers addressed the injury following the game. 

The Philadelphia 76ers paid a visit to the Chicago Bulls for the second and final time this season on Wednesday night. Going into the matchup, the Sixers were down two players, as James Harden and Jalen McDaniels went from being listed as questionable to getting ruled out.

Meanwhile, the veteran forward PJ Tucker was cleared for action after missing the last game with ankle soreness. Despite missing their starting point guard and a key reserve, the Sixers got off to a nearly flawless start in Chicago on Wednesday night. 

Through the first quarter of action, the Sixers led by as many as 22 points. In the second quarter, they extended their lead to 30 points. 

Going into halftime, the Sixers held a 76-48 lead. When they came out for the second half, Philadelphia’s star big man Joel Embiid was not on the floor to start the second half. Instead, he was replaced by Paul Reed.

As expected, Embiid's absence was a cause for concern. While it didn't appear he suffered any setbacks in the first half, nobody could be sure.

According to NBC Sports Philadelphia's Kate Scott, the Sixers didn't allow Embiid to return due to "the score differential." While he wasn't ruled out entirely, the Sixers maintained a notable enough lead to allow the big man to continue resting. 

Embiid checked in for just 16 minutes in the first half. The big man put up seven shots, draining all but two of his attempts from the field. He went to the free throw line for one trip, and drained both of his shots from the charity stripe.

Overall, Embiid finished the game with 12 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. He also had a block on the defensive end. 

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.

---

MORE SIXERS NEWS

Streak No More: The Sixers’ March win streak ends at eight games. On Monday night, the Chicago Bulls came to South Philly and took advantage of a struggling Sixers team in a game that was sent into double-overtime. READ MORE

Harden’s Hurting?: Saturday night’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers featured an absent Harden. It seemed the star guard was getting a rest night, but it’s been revealed that Harden was actually hurting in Monday’s game against the Bulls. READ MORE

Good Call: Fans were shocked when Doc Rivers didn’t challenge the call that caused Joel Embiid to foul out in Monday’s game against the Bulls. Rivers stood by his decision to not waste a timeout after the game, and Embiid himself admitted he committed a foul. READ MORE

Back to the Playoffs: The Sixers are headed back to the playoffs once again. Although the loss on Monday night prevented Philly from clinching at the time, a Cavaliers win over the Nets helped the Sixers punch their ticket, becoming the third Eastern Conference team to clinch a berth. READ MORE