The Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will sit out the team’s matchup against the Orlando Magic at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Monday. The star center is being rested for left knee injury management.
Embiid has averaged 12 points and four rebounds in 20 minutes per game across the first two games of the 2025–26 season. He scored 20 points in Philadelphia’s 125-121 win over Charlotte on Sunday, hitting 63.6 percent of his shots from the field.
The 76ers will also be without Paul George, Jared McCain, Trendon Watford, and Dominick Barlow due to injuries. Coach Nick Nurse is expected to lean on his healthy roster to maintain momentum after Philadelphia’s 2-0 start.
Philadelphia has already demonstrated offensive depth, with Tyrese Maxey leading the team in scoring with 40 and 28 points in the first two games. Andre Drummond and Kyle Lowry are also expected to play key roles in Embiid’s absence.
Orlando enters Monday’s game with a 1-2 record after losses to Atlanta and Chicago, while defeating Miami in their season opener. The Magic will be without Jamal Cain, Colin Castleton, and Moritz Wagner, further impacting their frontcourt depth.
The 76ers aim to protect their star player while keeping their undefeated home record intact. Managing Embiid’s minutes early in the season is part of a broader strategy to maintain his health for a challenging 82-game schedule.
