Philadelphia 76ers C Joel Embiid has been ruled out for Wednesday’s 76ers vs. Knicks NBA playoff game at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Embiid has been dealing with ankle and hip injuries lately. With Embiid out of the lineup, which 76ers players’ PrizePicks projections will be impacted as a result?
Below, we’ll dive into the latest Joel Embiid injury update and who to target on PrizePicks if he ends up sitting out.
Make NBA Playoff picks on PrizePicks — including ones for Game 2 of the 76ers vs. Knicks.
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Joel Embiid Injury Update: Is Embiid Playing Tonight vs. Knicks?
Embiid was originally listed as probable on the NBA’s official injury report leading up to Wednesday. However, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Embiid was unable to participate in Philadelphia’s shootaround on Wednesday morning after dealing with soreness in both his ankle and hip.
Embiid had been receiving constant treatment in hopes of playing in Game 2.
The 76ers star previously missed the first three games of the team’s first-round series against the Boston Celtics following surgery for appendicitis. Embiid returned for the final four games of that series and helped Philadelphia overcome a 3-1 series deficit to advance.
What Players to Target on PrizePicks with Embiid Out?
The common theme throughout Embiid’s career has been his ability to remain healthy. This will mark the fourth playoff game that the 76ers' star center has missed during the 2026 NBA playoffs, and it comes at a very inopportune time with Philadelphia trailing in the series.
Embiid is a skilled big man who affects the game in many ways. In five games this postseason, Embiid has averaged 25.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 42.4% from the field. The former MVP struggled in Game 1, as he was limited to just 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting in 25 minutes.
While Embiid isn’t Philadelphia’s only top-tier scorer, his presence does take a lot of the defensive attention away from the likes of G Tyrese Maxey and SF Paul George. According to databallr, Embiid has registered 34.2 true shot attempts per 100 possessions this season, which ranks in the 100th percentile. Simply put, the offense runs through Embiid when he is on the floor.
With Embiid out of the lineup, a trio of Philadelphia players could thrive in his absence. Paul George sees his scoring average increase by +9.3 points when Embiid is off the court. Philadelphia C Andre Drummond’s usage rate spikes by +3.6% without Embiid on the floor. Finally, 76ers G Tyrese Maxey’s usage rate increases by +6.3% in minutes without Embiid this season.
Here are the 76ers players who may benefit most on PrizePicks with Embiid out, as well as their stat projections for Wednesday.
- F Paul George — 18.5 Points / 27.5 Pts+Rebs+Asts / 33.5 Fantasy Score
- C Andre Drummond — 6.5 Points / 8 Rebs / 9.5 Rebs+Asts
- G Tyrese Maxey — 26.5 Points / 33.5 Pts+Asts / 6 Assists
Embiid was out from Games 1 to 3 in the first round vs. the Celtics, and George logged 18.0 points per game in the split.
Pick More or Less 76ers vs. Knicks player stats on PrizePicks now before the 7:00 p.m. ET tip.
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Make 76ers vs. Knicks Picks on PrizePicks
Embiid has officially been ruled out for Game 2 against the Knicks. With the 76ers' star center out of the lineup, Paul George could become a valuable commodity for projections on PrizePicks.
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