December 22, 2025
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Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Joel Embiid was feeling better and participated in Monday's practice.
Joel Embiid (right knee injury management) is probable to make his return to action when the Sixers host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night, according to the team's initial injury report for the game unveiled on Monday evening, which also lists Dominick Barlow and Quentin Grimes as questionable due to illnesses and does not include Paul George:
The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow's game vs. BKN:
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) December 22, 2025
Joel Embiid – right knee injury management – PROBABLE
Quentin Grimes – illness – QUESTIONABLE
Dominick Barlow – illness – QUESTIONABLE
Kelly Oubre Jr. – left knee – OUT
Trendon Watford – left adductor – OUT
Embiid, who played in two games during a three-day span for the first time all year before the Sixers' four-day layoff, missed both legs of the team's weekend back-to-back on Friday and Saturday due to an illness and right knee injury management. Embiid's right knee issue caused him to miss eight consecutive games earlier in the season, and after more than two weeks of the injury appearing to have subsided it popped back up on the injury report.
Embiid was initially questionable to play against the New York Knicks on Friday due to the illness, but during the afternoon was ruled out with the right knee tag added. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse provided the following responses:
Asked Nick Nurse about the timeline or Joel Embiid’s injury designations and whether or not there are any new issues/symptoms in his right knee. Full exchange: https://t.co/3hqX5TNef8 pic.twitter.com/YJvPQWFU4l
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) December 19, 2025
The following day, Embiid was doubtful to face the Dallas Mavericks and did not get ruled out until one hour before tip-off. On Monday, Nurse said Embiid participated in practice – he was seen wearing a grey jersey, indicating he was part of the second unit, while backup Andre Drummond was wearing the starters' blue – and that the former NBA MVP felt good and moved well.
Another injury note: Kelly Oubre Jr., sidelined for over five weeks with an LCL sprain in his left knee, underwent an individual workout on Monday that Nurse described as far and away the most rigorous since his injury on Nov. 14. There is still no timeline on a return for Oubre or Trendon Watford, who appears a bit farther behind.
