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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

Joel Embiid, despite battling an illness, surged ahead of Nikola Jokic in the MVP race. The Philadelphia 76ers star delivered a 50-point performance in his sixth consecutive 30-point game against the Washington Wizards. Now, the Sixers prepare to host the Wizards again in their second matchup this month. Fans anticipate another stellar performance from their MVP. However, the excitement is tinged with uncertainty. In the recent win against the Atlanta Hawks, Embiid twisted his knee. The instance now casts a shadow over the upcoming game.

Fans are eagerly waiting to see if their MVP overcomes the setback and delivers another monster game. Meanwhile, the struggling Wizards are desperate for their first win in December.

Is Joel Embiid playing against the Wizards?

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Despite nearly full participation in Sunday’s practice with the 76ers, Joel Embiid’s status for the upcoming matchup against the Wizards is ‘questionable’. Embiid boasts 33.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game on a 51% shooting clip and is grappling with a knee injury. A decision on his availability will be made as the game approaches.

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The Sixers’ injury list is short, with no other players currently sidelined. In contrast, the Wizards are facing a more challenging situation, with five players listed as unavailable. Among them, Daniel Gafford is day-to-day with a hip contusion. The players sitting out are Delon Wright (knee), Landry Shamet (ribs), Ryan Rollins (knee), and Johnny Davis (calf).

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It is the right time to give Embiid some rest

The night after his spectacular 50-point performance, Joel Embiid found himself writhing in pain. He was clutching his knee after a tumble against the Hawks, making for a sight that can haunt any Sixers fan. The prospect of losing the reigning MVP threatens to diminish the quality of their game and casts a shadow on their playoff aspirations.

Luckily, nothing major came from the incident. However, the 76ers have no incentive in rushing Embiid’s return at this point in the season. With matchups against some of the lower-ranked teams in their conference on the horizon, it is a stretch that can afford to rest Embiid. Philly will face the Wizards, the Detroit Pistons (twice), the Chicago Bulls, and the Charlotte Hornets in the next 10 days. With that said, it is safe to assume that Philly can navigate these contests without leaning heavily on Embiid.

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Furthermore, it is the first instance of Embiid being listed as questionable due to a knee injury. In his previous six absences, Joel had either sat out due to an illness or reasons related to his hip.