Joel Embiid (ankle) out for 76ers’ Christmas clash with Heat

Field Level Media|published: Sun 24th December, 18:58 2023

Dec 22, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts against the Toronto Raptors in the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. credits: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will miss Monday's Christmas Day game at the Miami Heat due to a sprained right ankle.

The 76ers announced that Embiid did not travel with the team to Miami, but he has not yet been ruled out for the team's following game Wednesday at the Orlando Magic.

Embiid was hurt during the first quarter of Philadelphia's 121-111 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday, but he played through the sprain to put up 31 points and 10 rebounds.

Embiid was mum about the injury after the fact, saying he'd get the ankle checked out and "we'll see" whether it would hinder him.

The injury subtracts one star player, the reigning league MVP, from the NBA's nationally televised five-game slate on Christmas Day. The Sixers, who have won eight of nine, are facing a Miami team that's made two of the past four NBA Finals and knocked Philadelphia out of the conference semifinals in 2022.

In each of his past 13 games, Embiid has tallied at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, a streak matched by Elgin Baylor and exceeded by Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

—Field Level Media