Nick Nurse offers injury updates on big man Joel Embiid, other Sixers

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers will play host to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night in an important NBA Cup matchup, but they will have to do so short-handed once again.

Joel Embiid, who has not played since Nov. 8 due to a right knee injury, was upgraded to questionable on the injury report for this contest. The Sixers then ruled him out shortly after shootaround on Tuesday morning. One has to wonder what caused the quick change in his playing status for this contest against the Magic.

"Just not quite there yet," Nurse said before the matchup against Orlando. "I mean, you guys know that we said yesterday that he practiced fully, and he participated in—most, well, I don’t know, parts of the shootaround today, but just not quite there."

A follow up was asked if the knee is swelling for Embiid and Nurse replied: "I do not believe so."

So, then why list him as questionable in the first place if the big fella is not quite ready? Nurse addressed that as well as there was some optimism that the 2023 MVP winner would return to the floor.

"I guess I would say there was a chance he would be ready," Nurse explained. "I think that’s what we have to do. It was trending towards he was gonna play, right?"

While Embiid is working his way back, Paul George was listed as probable against the Magic due to a right ankle sprain which is a new injury designation for him. The 9-time All-Star has been dealing with a left knee problem of his own, but Nurse stated that George reported the ankle problem after the loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday.

"Just that he reported soreness in the ankle after the game the other night," Nurse said. "He has not been in anything since then, and we’re just trying to keep following up with that and see where he is."

As far as if there is any concern about George missing an extended period of time, Nurse isn't committed to that yet. The Sixers still need to figure out what the injury is in order to determine how long he will be out.

"We’re not there yet," Nurse said succinctly. "I think we’re in the process of checking in to see what exactly is wrong and what the extent of it is. We’ll, obviously, give you that when we have it."

Then, there's VJ Edgecombe who is missing his second straight game due to a left calf strain. When considering the possibility of that injury growing into something more serious, the Sixers just want to take it easy and make sure their prized rookie is fully healthy before clearing him for a return.

"From what they’re telling me, that yes, that’s part of being cautious," Nurse said of Edgecombe. "They’re also telling me there’s really nothing there on the imaging and it’s a calf strain and he is also improving as well, so we’ll see."

The Sixers will have two days off before heading to New York to take on the Brooklyn Nets on Friday in the NBA Cup.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Nick Nurse offers injury updates on big man Joel Embiid, other Sixers