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Joel Embiid’s Official Playing Status for 76ers-Suns

Will Joel Embiid play against the Suns on Monday?

Justin Grasso

Nov 4, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts after the game against the Phoenix Suns at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Nov 4, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts after the game against the Phoenix Suns at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images / Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
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On Monday night, the Philadelphia 76ers are looking to create a winning streak. After taking down the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night, the Sixers are set to host the Phoenix Suns at home. They have officially concluded a six-game road trip.

Heading into the matchup, the Sixers added their seven-time All-Star center Joel Embiid to the injury report once again. Lately, Embiid has been dealing with multiple setbacks.

While being on the injury report was nothing new for Embiid on Monday, the fact that the Sixers will hold him out is a different development. The Sixers plan to roll without the star big man for the firs time in a few games.

At the start of the year, the Sixers rolled without Embiid for nine of the first ten games. At first, he was on a strict injury management plan. Embiid was looking to avoid early setbacks after getting surgery on his knee midway through the 2023-2024 season.

After Embiid appeared in four of five games, along with his season debut, the big man went on another multi-game absence. As Embiid experienced knee swelling and soreness, he was absent for seven games in a row. Embiid returned to the court on December 8.

Since making his December debut, Embiid hasn’t missed consecutive games, even after dealing with two more setbacks. First, Embiid was diagnosed with a sinus fracture after a 17-minute showing against the Indiana Pacers on December 13.

The injury caused Embiid to miss just one game. He has been wearing a facemask since.

Leading up to the Boston Celtics matchup on Christmas Day, Embiid injured his foot. The foot injury will be the reason Embiid won’t take the floor on Monday to face the Suns.

Since the foot setback occurred, Embiid has appeared in five of the last six games. Over that stretch, he averaged 30 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.

Without Embiid this season, the Sixers have won just 35 percent of their games. They are set to tip-off against the Suns at 7 PM ET.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Title: Credentialed writer/reporter covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation Email: JustinGrasso32@Gmail.com Location: Philadelphia, PA Expertise: Reporting, insight, and analysis on the Sixers and the NBA  Justin Grasso is a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation.  Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writer’s Association.  Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoNBA

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