Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center/forward Joel Embiid (21) in the first half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Trevor Ruszkowski
CAMDEN, N.J. — When the Sixers concluded their short practice on Friday before heading to the airport to catch a flight to Atlanta, center Joel Embiid was on the floor with some players who stayed behind to get in some extra work.
Embiid had on a practice shirt and a pair of sweats, but evidence that he didn't participate was the pair of slides he had on his feet. Out since suffering an oblique strain on February 26, Embiid won't be returning very soon. The team announced that he is "continuing strength and conditioning work. No on-court as of yet and he will be reevaluated in approximately one week."
"He says he's feeling a little bit better," said coach Nick Nurse of Embiid. "I don't think we're too far away from him getting on court. I think him just getting a little more pain free, getting his arms up so he can get on court and actually shoot, I think is what we're waiting for. But I don't think we're too far away from that."
As for rookie VJ Edgecombe — who bruised his back in Tuesday's loss to the San Antonio Spurs — the team announced that "he didn't practice today. He had an on-court session afterwards. Status for (Saturday) will be determined in the injury report later on Friday."
Kelly Oubre, Jr., who missed the past two games with an illness, did practice and will be ready to go Saturday when the team faces the Hawks.
After Atlanta, the Sixers will travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on Tuesday, then return home to play the Memphis Grizzlies the next night. They go to Detroit for a game on Thursday before going back-to-back at home on Saturday, March 14 against Brooklyn and Sunday the 15th against Portland. When Embiid may fall into that scheduling lineup remains to be seen.
