WASHINGTON — While the Sixers’ health picture has improved considerably over the last week, it’s not quite spotless.
The Sixers ruled Joel Embiid out with an illness late Wednesday morning ahead of their matchup with the Wizards. Rookie Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery) also remains sidelined.
Embiid had played in three straight games since returning from a 13-game absence with a right oblique strain. After posting 26 points on 10-for-25 shooting and seven rebounds Monday in the Sixers’ loss to the Heat, he told reporters in Miami he was sick, per Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin.
Embiid’s averaged 30.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 blocks over the last three games. He’s been aggressive offensively and shot especially well from three-point range, hitting 8 of 15 long-distance attempts.
Backup big man Adem Bona had one of his best games this season when the Sixers visited the Wizards on Oct. 28, blocking five shots late in a comeback overtime win.
The Sixers entered Wednesday seventh in the Eastern Conference at 41-34, one game behind the sixth-seeded Raptors and one ahead of the eighth-seeded Magic. The Wizards are 17-58 and have lost 19 of their last 20 games.