February 20, 2026
Joel Embiid (right knee injury management; right shin soreness) is out for the Sixers' road contest against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night, according to the team's initial injury report for the game unveiled on Friday evening:
The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow's game @ New Orleans:
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) February 20, 2026
Joel Embiid – right knee injury management; right shin soreness — OUT
Embiid missed the Sixers' last two games before the All-Star break due to right knee injury management, the same designation which prompted a multi-week absence in November. The Sixers said on Wednesday that as he worked to recover during the break, Embiid reported shin soreness, which held him out of Thursday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks despite head coach Nick Nurse indicating pregame that the team did not expect him to miss considerable time. Nurse added that if Thursday's game was a playoff matchup, Embiid likely would have suited up.
The sentiment emerging from the home locker room on Thursday night: because Embiid experienced his best and most consistent stretch of basketball in two years during the last few days of December and the month of January, the Sixers had finally gotten used to having him on the floor – and, in turn, have strayed away from the points of emphasis which powered their early-season success without Embiid.
"I'm having a successful year, but I played three different roles."
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) February 20, 2026
Tyrese Maxey has had to adapt from game to game based on which teammates are available. | @FultonBank pic.twitter.com/hwR8thnhKL
From Dec. 30 to the end of Jan. 31, Embiid played in 15 of the Sixers' 18 games, averaging 34.3 minutes, 30.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists. All three of his absences were planned as parts of back-to-backs on the schedule. But he has missed three games in a row, and all of those absences have not been scripted.
MORE: Cam Payne talks return to Philly, goals for rest of season, more
