Fresh off of their 98-84 victory over the Boston Celtics in their first exhibition game on Friday, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be tipping off against the Philadelphia 76ers at 12:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.
When that contest commences, however, the Sixers will be without top gun Joel Embiid.
During the Sixers’ first exhibition game against the Memphis Grizzlies (also on Friday), Embiid reportedly began experiencing discomfort in his right calf. He was held out of the remainder of the contest and, apparently, his condition has not improved to the point where he is able to suit up. He has thus been ruled out for Sunday’s contest against Oklahoma City.
Joel Embiid began experiencing discomfort in his right calf during Friday’s game vs. MEM and will not play in today’s scrimmage against OKC.
Embiid is considered day to day, continues to receive treatment for right calf tightness, and will be re-evaluated tomorrow.
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) July 26, 2020
According to Kyle Neubeck of The Philly Voice, Embiid is considered day-to-day, but his early absence will not only bolster the Thunder’s odds of winning the contest, it’ll probably worry Sixers fans, too.
Embiid, who has had a long history of missing games, will need to be operating at 100% health to give the Sixers an opportunity to win meaningful games in Orlando.