The Philadelphia 76ers face a depleted roster when they visit the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, March 12 at 7:00 PM ET.
Philadelphia will be without Joel Embiid (right oblique strain), Tyrese Maxey (right finger tendon injury), Kelly Oubre Jr. (left elbow sprain), Paul George (league suspension), and Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery). Adem Bona is listed as questionable with back soreness.
Detroit also enters the game with notable absences. Ausar Thompson (right ankle sprain) and Caris LeVert (left wrist sprain) are the most prominent names, while multiple two-way players including Isaac Jones, Wendell Moore Jr., and Tolu Smith are out due to G League assignments. Chaz Lanier is questionable, also on a G League assignment.
The Sixers’ recent form has been mixed, dropping a 101-115 loss at Cleveland before rebounding with a 139-129 home victory against Memphis.
Tyrese Maxey leads the team with 29.0 points per game, but his absence leaves a scoring gap that will likely be felt. VJ Edgecombe averages 15.4 points and 5.5 rebounds, and Quentin Grimes adds 13.0 points per contest, but both will face increased defensive attention in Embiid’s absence.
Detroit has been dominant this season, sitting atop the Eastern Conference with a 46-18 record. Cade Cunningham leads the team with 25.1 points and 9.9 assists per game. Jalen Duren contributes 18.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per contest, while Tobias Harris provides 13.1 points per game.
The Pistons are coming off a 138-100 win over Brooklyn, maintaining momentum heading into the matchup.
Previous meetings this season have favored the Pistons, who won both encounters: 111-108 in Philadelphia on November 9, 2025, and 114-105 at Detroit on November 14.
The game represents a critical test for Philadelphia’s playoff positioning. Sitting eighth in the Eastern Conference at 35-30, they trail Atlanta and Charlotte by a narrow margin. Detroit, having already secured a postseason berth, can focus on maintaining rhythm and depth before the playoffs.
