Joel Embiid will miss Sunday’s game against the Indiana Pacers due to right plantar fasciitis management, ESPN Deportes reported.
The Philadelphia 76ers announced the center’s absence on Saturday, leaving the team without its star for the matchup in Philadelphia.
“Los Philadelphia 76ers descartaron al pívot Joel Embiid para el partido del domingo contra los Indiana Pacers, debido al manejo de una afección en la fascia plantar del pie derecho,” according to the team announcement.
Teammates Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow also appear on the injury report as unavailable for the weekend contest.
Frontcourt Depth Issues
Bona sits out due to a cervical spine sprain, while Barlow continues dealing with back issues that have sidelined him all season.
Head coach Nick Nurse mentioned on Saturday that Barlow is progressing, but the franchise has not established a clear timetable for his return.
Without Embiid, Bona, and Barlow, the active roster features a severely depleted frontcourt rotation heading into the weekend.
Tacko Fall stands as the only traditional center currently active on a two-way contract, forcing the coaching staff to look at alternative lineup combinations.
Rotation Adjustments
Philadelphia plans to utilize LeBron James, Jabari Walker, and Dean Wade to shoulder center responsibilities during Embiid’s absence.
The Sixers hold a 1-1 record this season when playing without their starting center.
In those previous absences, James started at the five position in a loss to the Detroit Pistons, while Bona started at center in a win against the Charlotte Hornets.
LeBron James avoided the injury report ahead of Sunday, despite sitting out Thursday’s win over the Toronto Raptors due to sciatica and lower back discomfort.
Schedule Challenges
Sunday’s matchup opens a back-to-back set for Philadelphia, which travels to face the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.
Neither Embiid nor James has played both ends of a back-to-back set for the franchise so far this season.
The status of both veterans for Monday’s game in Brooklyn remains unconfirmed by the medical staff.
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