Joel Embiid will not travel with the Sixers for the team's weekend road back-to-back against the Grizzlies and Thunder because of right knee pain.
The three-time All-Star, who's been among the league's best players this season, will continue to train and receive treatment in Philadelphia. He played 24 minutes Thursday night, sitting out the entire fourth quarter of the Sixers' comfortable win over the Heat.
The decision to have Embiid remain in Philadelphia is precautionary and his injury is not considered to be serious, according to a source.
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SIGN UP HERE Embiid has missed two games because of back tightness thus far for the 9-4 Sixers. He's been excellent on both sides of the ball, averaging 25.0 points with a 65.3 true shooting percentage, 11.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.4 steals.
Mike Scott has right knee swelling and also won't travel with the team. The veteran power forward returned from a five-game absence because of a left knee contusion on Monday, playing 22 minutes against the Hawks and 46 minutes in the Sixers' overtime victory the next night over Miami.
Seth Curry and Vincent Poirier will both be out for Saturday's game because of the NBA's health and safety protocols, while Furkan Korkmaz will still be sidelined by a left adductor strain. Expect rookie guard Isaiah Joe, who's impressed head coach Doc Rivers with his defense and outside shooting, to continue receiving rotation minutes with Korkmaz out. Joe is 12 from 25 from three-point range (48 percent) over his last three games.
Shake Milton, Tobias Harris and Matisse Thybulle all returned to the Sixers' rotation Thursday and provided strong performances, showing no signs of rust after being out for health and safety reasons. That trio should play key roles without Embiid, in addition to Ben Simmons. The two-time All-Star was listed as probable on Friday night's injury report with left knee swelling.
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Dwight Howard, who said Tuesday he's a "big believer" in Embiid and thinks he can be "one of the greatest big men to ever play basketball," will presumably fill in at center.