76ers center Joel Embiid suffers abdominal strain and will miss at least three games.

2026-03-02 01:02

The Philadelphia 76ers have officially confirmed that their star center Joel Embiid will miss at least three games due to a strained right external oblique muscle.

Embiid was injured late in Thursday's game against the Miami Heat. Although he left the game briefly after the collision, he returned with determination and hit a crucial three-pointer to seal the victory, finishing with 26 points and 11 rebounds.

However, Embiid experienced increased soreness in his injured area after the game, and a subsequent MRI confirmed a strain in his external oblique muscle. According to the official injury report, Embiid is confirmed to miss the away game against the Boston Celtics.

Furthermore, Embiid will continue to miss Tuesday's home game against the San Antonio Spurs and Wednesday's home game against the Utah Jazz. His medical team will reassess his injury after the two home games, with the most optimistic return date currently being Saturday's away game against the Atlanta Hawks.

The 76ers currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 33-26 record, just 1.5 games ahead of the Magic. With Paul George sidelined due to suspension and their key interior player absent, the team will heavily rely on Tyrese Maxey's offensive organization and veteran Andre Drummond's defensive support in the paint.

Image source: Internet/NBA official website