76ers rule out injured Joel Embiid, Paul George vs. Pistons

CAMDEN, NJ – The season debuts of Joel Embiid and Paul George remain on ice for the Philadelphia 76ers as both players will miss Wednesday's game against the Detroit Pistons due to knee injuries.

Embiid and George participated in portions of practice on Tuesday and their playing status will be reevaluated later in the week.

Sixers coach Nick Nurse declined to elaborate on her health status and possible timeline for returning to the lineup.

“We want these guys to play, and we want them to be healthy, and we want them to play great, and we want them to play great all season long,” Nurse said Tuesday. “Then my main focus is that I have to do the job that I have to do. I have to try to make this team play as well as possible tomorrow night. That takes a lot of my energy. “Focus.”

George has yet to make his Sixers debut after signing a four-year, $212 million contract as a free agent this summer. The 34-year-old has a bone bruise but suffered no structural damage when he hyperextended his left knee during a pre-season game.

A nine-time All-Star, George was injured when his knee gave out on a defensive play.

The 30-year-old Embiid, who won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in Paris, is struggling with what the team describes as left knee treatment. He didn't play in the preseason.

The NBA is investigating why Embiid did not play in the team's nationally televised season opener against Milwaukee.

The league confirmed the investigation was initiated under the NBA's player involvement policy, which went into effect last season.

Embiid and George missed both games of a road trip against Toronto and Indiana. Without them, the 76ers are 1-2 heading into Wednesday's home game against the Pistons. Tyrese Maxey scored 10 of Philadelphia's 13 overtime points and finished with 45 points, helping the 76ers beat the Pacers for their first win of the season on Sunday.

The 76ers also host Memphis on Saturday evening.

Embiid was limited to 39 games last season, mostly due to knee surgery after tearing the meniscus in his left knee on Jan. 30 against Golden State. He returned for the playoffs and was diagnosed with Bell's palsy during a first-round loss to the Knicks.

Embiid signed a $193 million contract before training camp. The 76ers have failed to advance past the second round of the playoffs since 2001, in large part because Embiid has failed to stay healthy.

The Sixers finished 31-8 with Embiid last season and 16-27 without him.

Embiid revealed before training camp that he had lost about 25 to 30 pounds to stay in better shape for the season. This also means that you do not leave any further problems with your knee behind.

Embiid was the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft but missed his first two full seasons due to injuries. Since his first full season in 2016, Embiid has appeared in 433 of a possible 804 regular season games and just 59 of a possible 67 playoff games.

Embiid sprained his right knee in the 2023 playoffs, costing him games against Brooklyn and Boston. He missed two games in the second round in 2022 and another in the first round in 2021 due to various injuries. Additionally, he missed two games early in the 2018 playoffs due to an orbital fracture and another in 2019, also due to knee problems.