Joel Embiid is not playing tonight (Image via NBA) After a lengthy period on the sideline, Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid returned to game action during Philadelphia’s 142-134 double overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks over the weekend. However, today, Embiid has been officially ruled out of the game against Washington due to right knee injury recuperation.Since the game against the Wizards isn’t a back-to-back, you would assume Embiid would be ready to go, so this is obviously a little concerning. However, there’s a potential that the Sixers are just being careful following his first game back after almost a month on the sideline.
Joel Embiid’s short return ends as he sits out again for knee recovery
On Sunday, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid returned to action against the Atlanta Hawks, playing a season-high 30 minutes in a double overtime loss. Embiid played 30 minutes against Atlanta, scoring 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. It wasn’t his best effort by any measure of the imagination, but it was good to see him back on the court. His return to action was brief, however, as he will be back on the bench when the Sixers face the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.Now, Embiid has been ruled out of Tuesday’s game against the Washington Wizards as the 76ers continue to treat his knee ailment. Embiid has played in only seven games this season, missing nine games in a row before returning on Sunday.Nonetheless, the Sixers definitely don’t need Embiid to beat the dismal Wizards, who are 3-16 and at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Nonetheless, head coach Nick Nurse and the rest of the team’s players must deal with constant uncertainty about Embiid’s availability.Following the loss to Atlanta, Embiid bemoaned not being able to play alongside his teammates on a consistent basis. Embiid said:”The only thing I’ll say is, I do feel bad, but it’s unfortunate.. You can only control what you can control. If anybody thinks that I don’t want to play every game, that’s their problem, but I think history has shown that I would do anything just to play one game of basketball.”
A tough season continues as Joel Embiid struggles with injury and low stats
Embiid has played in only seven games for the Sixers this season, averaging career lows in both points and rebounds per game. Embiid is clearly not 100%, and he stated that he feels “bad” for guard Tyrese Maxey and the load that he has been required to bear for Philadelphia this season.Embiid and Paul George have lost significant time in the 2025-26 season, while Maxey leads the NBA in minutes played.This season, Embiid averages 19.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 29.0 percent from beyond the arc. The Sixers have a 4-3 record in his seven games, but he is unlikely to play in all 82 games this season.Also read: Why isn’t Joel Embiid playing tonight? Philadelphia 76ers hit by alarming setback as star player’s sudden downgrade deepens swirling uncertainty