January 21, 2026
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Joel Embiid is still not playing in both legs of back-to-backs, but has otherwise been fully available for the Sixers over the last three weeks.
Joel Embiid (right ankle injury management) is probable to return to action when the Sixers host the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, according to the team's initial injury report for the game unveiled on Wednesday which also lists Paul George (left knee injury management) as questionable:
The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow’s game vs. Houston:
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) January 21, 2026
Joel Embiid — right ankle injury management — PROBABLE
Paul George — left knee injury management — QUESTIONABLE
Embiid was sidelined for the Sixers' loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday after scoring 30 points in a win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Embiid still does not play both legs of any back-to-backs – he said before the start of last season that he never anticipates doing so again – but has otherwise been fully available to the Sixers over the last three weeks or so, with his only two absences being planned as parts of back-to-backs.
George has been on a similar plan, and the Sixers appeared to be holding him out of Monday's game so that he could play on Tuesday with Embiid sidelined. But the nine-time All-Star was ruled out for Tuesday's game 30 minutes before tip-off.
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