Feb 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) lands on the floor after a basket in the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Nothing is ever easy for the Sixers.
After missing the final two games before the All-Star break, the hope, maybe even expectation, was that Joel Embiid would come back from the time off refreshed, ready to continue his terrific play throughout the final 28 games of the season, and catapult the team up the Eastern Conference standings. Well, once again, hopes and dreams will have to be put on hold.
Embiid will miss Thursday's home game against the Atlanta Hawks with right shin soreness, which, of course, is just below the knee that has been a problem this season and kept him out of numerous games. In fact, Thursday will be the 24th game missed by the star center this season. In games that he's played, the team is 19-12. When he's not been available, they are 11-12.
But this one feels a bit different. Coach Nick Nurse has talked endlessly of trying to find an identity to his team, which has rarely been at full strength at any time during the season. And now he is going to have to try and do it without Embiid for he foreseeable future, and without Paul George, who can't come back from his drug-related suspension until the end of March.
And who knows how long this injury will sideline Embiid? This final stretch of the regular season was looked at as a period where the Sixers could improve their playoff positioning. Pending Embiid's availability, those thoughts may have to turn towards the team fighting just to make a playoff appearance.
An update on his injury is expected later in the week.
SIXERS MAKE A SIGNING:
The team announced on Thursday that they have signed 6'6" shooting guard Tyrese Martin to a two-way contract. Martin, a second round pick in the 2022 draft, most recently played 37 games for the Brooklyn Nets this year, where he averaged 7.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 18.8 minutes for Brooklyn.
"I'm trying to build relationships as quick as possible with the coaches and the players, and just doing my part," Martin said at the team's shootaround on Thursday. "On the basketball court, it's going to take care of itself after I figure out the schemes, plays, principles on both sides of the basketball. I think I'll pick things up pretty fast.
"I think with my size I just do a little bit of everything well. Handle the ball at the one, shoot the ball. I think the main thing is going to be my competitiveness and my toughness on the defensive end. Ball pressure, pick up guys, just play tough. I think that's where I'll find myself fitting in real fast with this team."
