Joel Embiid is out again! Looks like the reigning MVP finalist’s absence continues to loom large as the Philadelphia 76ers face the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. Yes, Embiid will miss the game due to “left knee injury management” and “personal reasons,” leaving a significant void for the Sixers. Embiid has only played in four games this season, all of which ended in losses, making his absence even more critical.

The knee injury, sustained on January 30th against the Golden State Warriors, has been a persistent issue. Despite months of recovery, the hooper’s team is still taking a cautious approach to his health, opting to manage his condition carefully. The exact details behind his reason remain unclear, which adds to the uncertainty surrounding his return.

For the 76ers, the challenge is becoming more urgent. Without their star center, the team has struggled to gain traction, failing to secure a win in their four attempts without him. With the stakes rising and no definitive return date in sight, the question is: How much longer can the Sixers continue to compete at a high level without their franchise player? Meanwhile, the team is navigating other injuries too. Paul George is “out” due to his knee bone bruise injury that he sustained in the third quarter against the Grizzlies. He instantly left the game and went to the locker room, not to return. However, the team has also said that he had fully participated in today’s practice.

The next hooper who is “out” is Kyle Lowry due to his right hip strain. He suffered the injury in a loss against the Heat. This makes his fifth consecutive game to be missing and the team has announced that he will be re-evaluated early next week.  Nevertheless, there is one relief to the team: Caleb Martin’s status. He is reported as “day-to-day” due to his upper back soreness that he sustained against the Clippers in just 13 minutes on-court. He also gave another refill as he partially appeared in today’s practice. That’s it for the 76ers injury report, but with this, we also need to take a look into their depth chart to see the availability of players and the 76ers’ potential roster against the Pistons.

What is the Potential lineup for the 76ers against the Detroit Pistons?

With four of the 76ers key players injured and sidelined, the team needs to manage with adjustments of their lineup for the upcoming game against the Pistons. As they navigate these changes, here’s a look at the potential starting five and key contributors for the matchup:

Note:- “O” means “out” and “DD” means “day-to-day”.

Potential lineup:- PG – Tyrese Maxey, SG – Jared McCain, SF – Kelly Oubre Jr., PF – Caleb Martin or KJ Martin, and C – Guerschon Yabusele. 

With several key players unavailable, Philly will rely on a mix of established veterans and younger talents to step up. The absence of star players leaves a significant void, particularly in scoring and leadership. Can the team find chemistry and compete effectively with this new lineup, or will they struggle to maintain momentum?