Dallas Mavericks Anthony Davis and Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid (Image via Getty)
He has played 19 games this season and is averaging 23.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. His availability has been limited, similar to what happened in 2024-25. The recent six-game stretch was his longest since January 2024 and came during a strong run for Philadelphia.
The addition of groin soreness in the updated report led to the final call. Joel Embiid was initially listed only for knee management. Those numbers are solid, but they are below the level he set during his MVP season. Injuries have again shaped Joel Embiid’s season.
Joel Embiid will not play when the Philadelphia 76ers face the Toronto Raptors on January 11, 2026. The Sixers are 21-15 overall and riding a four-game road winning streak. In games Embiid has missed, they are 10-6. The game tips at 6 p.m.
The team ruled him out due to left knee injury management, with left groin soreness added later in the day. The update moved him from questionable to out before tip-off. This decision ends Embiid’s six-game stretch of appearances, his longest run this season. With the game opening a back-to-back, Philadelphia chose rest over risk. Tyrese Maxey and Paul George have carried much of the load, but Embiid’s impact in the paint is not something the team can replace. If Barnes or Ingram play, Toronto could have a clear edge inside against a Philadelphia team without its starting center. ET. Philadelphia will rely on guard play and rotation depth to stay competitive. Embiid’s absence again shows how much the Sixers’ season depends on his health. The hope is that sitting him now helps keep him available for the rest of the back-to-back and the weeks ahead.