Sixers' Embiid ruled out vs. Wizards due to illness

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The Philadelphia 76ers will be without All-Star center Joel Embiid for Wednesday's game against the Washington Wizards due to an illness. Embiid was already dealing with the illness during the team's previous game against the Miami Heat, where he still managed to score 26 points despite the physical toll. The Sixers have one other player, Johni Broome, ruled out for the season after knee surgery.

Why it matters

While the Sixers are in a tight Eastern Conference playoff race, this game against the league-worst Wizards presents an opportunity for Philadelphia to rest Embiid and still be expected to win without their star player. The Wizards have only won one of their last 20 games, making this a game the Sixers should be able to handle even without Embiid in the lineup.

The details

Embiid was added to the Sixers' injury report on Wednesday morning, being ruled out for the game against the Wizards due to illness. He had mentioned after the team's previous game against the Heat that he was already sick during that contest, with the illness physically affecting his performance. Despite being ill, Embiid still managed to score 26 points in 34 minutes against the Heat.

• Embiid was added to the Sixers' injury report on Wednesday morning, being ruled out for the game against the Wizards.
• The Sixers and Wizards are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

What’s next

The Sixers will look to bounce back from their loss to the Heat when they take on the Wizards on Wednesday without Embiid in the lineup.