Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery on Thursday afternoon in Houston, the team announced.
He’d already been ruled out for the 76ers’ game against the Rockets due to illness, per the team’s injury report, but no further timeline has been announced.
Embiid last played on Monday, putting up 34 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in a loss to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
The Cameroonian big man has been limited to just 38 games this season due to knee and oblique injuries, averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 blocks. With his absence on Thursday, Embiid fell short of playing at least half the season for a third consecutive year.
Embiid’s diagnosis is a blow to the 76ers’ playoff hopes, as the team entered Thursday as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and just 0.5 games back of the Orlando Magic. Philadelphia can finish as high as fifth or as low as ninth in the East with just three games remaining.
The 76ers are hoping to make the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season and advance beyond the second round for the first time since 2001.
It’s pursuit that’s been burdened by multiple absences from the likes of Embiid and Maxey, who recently returned from a 10-game injury stint, and Paul George, who missed 25 games due to suspension.