Boston Celtics try to defend Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid (Image via Getty) The Philadelphia 76ers will be without Joel Embiid for their March 19, 2026, game against the Sacramento Kings. The team has ruled him out with a right oblique strain, extending his absence to 11 consecutive games.There was some movement in his status earlier in the day, but the final decision remained the same. Philadelphia chose not to clear him, and he will sit out once again as he continues to recover from the injury.
Joel Embiid’s Injury timeline shows slow but steady progress (March 19, 2026)
Joel Embiid suffered the injury on February 28 during a matchup against the Miami Heat. Since then, he has not played and has mostly been listed as “out” on official reports. Ahead of this game, he was briefly upgraded to “doubtful,” which suggested some improvement, but that change did not last long.The 76ers later downgraded him back to out before tip-off. Head coach Nick Nurse said Embiid has been doing on-court work and is progressing. The team is now looking at a possible return on March 21 against the Utah Jazz.
Philadelphia 76ers adjusting without Joel Embiid
The Philadelphia 76ers come into this game with a 37-32 record and are still trying to manage without their leading player. Joel Embiid had a strong performance the last time these teams met in January, finishing with 37 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists in a close win.Without him, the team has turned to Andre Drummond and Adem Bona to handle frontcourt minutes. The roster has also been affected by injuries in other areas, which has made it harder to maintain consistency. Their recent 124-96 loss to Denver showed those issues clearly, especially on offense.
Full Philadelphia 76ers Injury Report
PlayerInjuryStatusEst. Return Joel Embiid Right oblique strain Out March 21 Tyrese Maxey Right pinkie tendon Out Early April Kelly Oubre Jr. Left elbow sprain Out March 28 Johni Broome Right knee meniscus Out Early April Paul George League suspension Out March 25With several players unavailable, Quentin Grimes, Justin Edwards, and Jared McCain are expected to handle larger roles in the rotation.Also read: Philadelphia 76ers vs Sacramento Kings injury report: Who’s playing, injured and questionable players, head-to-head records, team stats, and more (March 19, 2026)Available players for Sacramento include DeMar DeRozan, Dennis Schroder, and Doug McDermott. With both teams missing multiple contributors, the outcome will likely depend on which side manages its rotation better.