Update, 2/24/25 4:18 p.m.: The Sixers have officially ruled out Joel Embiid for their matchup against the Bulls. That didn’t come in until almost 24 hours after the initial report from Shams’ Charania that Embiid and the team are weighing other treatment options, but it came in nonetheless. Tyrese Maxey is still questionable and will likely be a game-time decision.
Update, 7:00 p.m.: Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are now officially listed as questionable vs. the Bulls Monday night. Maxey is dealing with a sprained finger in his right shooting hand, though Nick Nurse did tell reporters Sunday that the guard was a full participant at practice.
Embiid did not participate and the most recent report doesn’t sound promising for his return to the court.
Rookie Justin Edwards, who has missed the last two games with an ankle sprain, was a partial participant at practice but has officially been ruled out for Monday.
Update, 2/24/25 4:15 p.m.: The Sixers have officially ruled out Joel Embiid for their matchup against the Bulls. That didn’t come in until almost 24 hours after the initial report from Shams’ Charania that Embiid and the team are weighing other treatment options, but it came in nonetheless. Tyrese Maxey is still questionable and will likely be a game-time decision.
So, this saga is going to keep moving on a day-to-day basis.
The Sixers returned to practice after a devastating last second loss to the Brooklyn Nets with some noticeable absences.
Nick Nurse told reporters that Joel Embiid was not a participant and will be listed as questionable for Monday’s game against the Chicago Bulls. Embiid did not play the entire fourth quarter against Brooklyn, though Nurse did not attribute that to any injury. The other lineup was simply playing better so he decided to stick with it.
Nick Nurse said he wanted the Yabusele lineup to keep rolling, thought they had a good feel for the game, which is why he didn’t put Joel Embiid back in the game in the 4th
— Josh Grieb (@JGrieb10) February 23, 2025
Still, there were a couple plays towards the end of Embiid’s night that were of note. He got stuffed on a drive and fell, and came up grabbing his left knee. He checked out of the game after this wild closeout that saw him take a tumble, but on this play he did land on his right leg.
Joel Embiid starts Q4 on the bench with a wrap of some sort on his foot.
— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) February 23, 2025
So despite the benching, despite Embiid constantly bringing up the fact that he feels the situation needs fixing, the team doesn’t seem intent on shutting him down.
Elsewhere, Justin Edwards did return after spraining his ankle in the first practice post-All Star break. Nurse told reporters he was in about 75% of practice today and will be also listed as questionable vs. the Bulls.
The team is also still mulling options over Eric Gordon and what to do about his wrist injury that’s kept him out the last four games. Nurse said to reporters that they are awaiting a third specialist as they still try to figure out what the plan is. Kyle Lowry’s nagging hip injury is more about pain tolerance though, and Nurse still hopes to get him out there at some point.
Despite the season going further off the rails with every passing game, the Sixers refuse to give any indication that they are packing it in.