As the Philadelphia 76ers (31-26) pursue a playoff spot, they’ve been doing so without their best player as of late.
2023-24 NBA MVP Joel Embiid, who returned to form earlier this season, has missed the last five games with knee and shin injuries. With Philly occupying the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, Tuesday’s outing against the Indiana Pacers at 7:00 p.m. takes center stage.
With that in mind, let’s dive into the latest Joel Embiid injury update, also weaving in how it could impact PrizePicks player projections for 76ers vs. Pacers tonight.
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Joel Embiid Injury Update vs. Pacers Tonight
Per the official NBA injury report for Tuesday, Embiid has been upgraded to questionable. The big man is currently nursing some right shin soreness, in addition to right knee injury management, making him one of the top players to monitor today.
Over the years, Embiid has accumulated a laundry list of ailments. The seven-time All-Star missed nine consecutive contests in November, which led many to think hopes of him becoming an all-world contributor again were on ice. On the contrary, he managed to bounce back in a huge way.
In 17 games this calendar year, Embiid’s averaged 29.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 53.5% shooting from the field and 39.7% from 3-point land. He has nine 30-point outings and even a 40-point outburst in that span, showing flashes of his peak form.
If Embiid can return to the lineup on Tuesday, it’d be a considerable boost for the 76ers.
Embiid Injury Impact: Which 76ers Players to Target?
Without Embiid on the court, the Sixers have taken somewhat of a “Moneyball” approach to replacing his production. At the C position, the duo of veteran Andre Drummond and second-year man Adem Bona has attempted to do the trick.
It’s someone else, however, who could be worth targeting on Tuesday: PF-C Dominick Barlow.
In 46 games this year, Barlow’s averaging 8.4 points and 4.9 rebounds on 54.1% shooting. February marks his true breakout, as those scoring and rebounding numbers jump to 10.8 and 5.5, respectively, in eight games.
Per databallr, without Embiid, Barlow’s usage rate climbs 2.2%. With Embiid on the floor, though, his rebounding clip increases by 1.6%. Tuesday might just be an ideal situation for him in either scenario.
Dominick Barlow vs. Pacers Projections, Picks
Here are some top Dominick Barlow projections vs. the Pacers tonight, via PrizePicks.
- 9.5 Points
- 5.5 Rebounds
- 0.5 Assists (Goblin)
- 15.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- 22.5 Fantasy Score
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Make 76ers vs. Pacers Picks on PrizePicks
Regardless of whether Joel Embiid makes his triumphant return to the lineup on Tuesday, there are still plenty of 76ers vs. Pacers picks to choose from. The same is true for the rest of the night’s hoops action.
You can make your NBA picks on PrizePicks, earning real-money rewards if you’re right. Just pick at least two players and predict More or Less on their projected stats.
With PrizePicks Team Picks, make predictions on game winners, spreads, over/unders, and more — now available in 34 states!
Keep it locked in here with the Playbook for continued NBA news, picks, and analysis every day.
