Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will be sidelined for Wednesday’s game against the Washington Wizards due to an illness. The announcement comes after Embiid revealed he was feeling sick during Monday’s 105-87 loss to the Miami Heat.

Embiid’s Condition and Recent Struggles

Following the game in Miami, Embiid stated, “Physically, I just was not in it.” He totaled 26 points on 10-of-25 shooting in that contest. Despite the illness, Embiid was not listed on the NBA’s injury report released Tuesday night.

Lineup Adjustments for the Sixers

With Embiid unavailable, Adem Bona is expected to start at center for the Sixers. Veteran Andre Drummond is also an option, along with Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow as potential small-ball centers.

Wizards as Opponents and Embiid’s Season

The Wizards are currently one of the NBA’s worst teams and are reportedly focusing on development as the regular season concludes. Embiid is averaging 26.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 36 games played this season.

Recent Injury History

Embiid recently returned to action on March 25 after missing a month due to an oblique strain in his right side. Prior to that injury, he had been dealing with a stress reaction in his right shin and a right knee issue. This season has been marked by injury challenges for the former NBA Most Valuable Player, who was limited to 19 games in the 2023-24 season due to multiple surgeries on his left knee.

The Sixers are currently in a tight race for postseason positioning with seven games remaining. They enter Wednesday in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, one game behind the sixth-place Toronto Raptors and one game ahead of the eighth-place Orlando Magic.