Will Joel Embiid play tonight against the Boston Celtics? Latest update on the Philadelphia 76ers star's injury report (February 2, 2025)

The Philadelphia 76ers will be without their star center, Joel Embiid, when they take on the Boston Celtics at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday, February 2. The reigning MVP has been ruled out due to a knee injury, dealing a major blow to a struggling 76ers squad that has already been plagued by injuries.


Joel Embiid’s absence comes at a critical time for Philadelphia, as the team has been underperforming this season with a 19-28 record. Alongside Embiid, the Sixers will also be missing Paul George (illness), Jared McCain (meniscus), and Kenyon Martin Jr. (foot), while Caleb Martin (hip) and Andre Drummond (toe) remain questionable. With multiple key players sidelined, the burden will fall on Tyrese Maxey, who has been averaging 28.4 points per game over the last 20 contests.

The Philadelphia 76ers' struggles have been evident on both ends of the floor. They rank 25th in the NBA in scoring at 109 points per game and sit dead last in rebounding, averaging just 38.8 boards per contest. Without Joel Embiid anchoring the defense and contributing on offense, the challenge against Boston becomes even greater.


In contrast, the Celtics enter the matchup with a far healthier roster. The only player on their injury report is Payton Pritchard, who is listed as questionable due to illness. Boston currently holds a strong 34-15 record and boasts one of the league’s top offenses, ranking fifth in points per game (117.3). Led by Jayson Tatum’s 26.7 points per game, the Celtics will look to capitalize on a depleted 76ers squad.
Boston has also been dominant from beyond the arc, making a league-leading 17.7 three-pointers per game. With Joel Embiid out, the Philadelphia 76ers will have to rely on their perimeter defense to contain Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis, all of whom can stretch the floor effectively.
With Embiid sidelined, Philadelphia faces an uphill battle to keep its playoff hopes alive. The team is already struggling with consistency, and missing their franchise player only adds to the uncertainty. The upcoming games will test the 76ers’ depth and resilience as they aim to stay competitive in a challenging Eastern Conference.
Also read: Will Jayson Tatum play tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers? Latest update on the Boston Celtics star's injury report (February 2, 2025)


The Celtics vs. 76ers game will tip off at 6:00 PM ET on ESPN, NBCS-PH, and NBCS-BOS.