How the 76ers’ Injury Concerns are Affecting Them in Their Playoff Push
Jan 5, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on after falling to the court with guard Vj Edgecombe (77) during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The 76ers are a much better team than last year, but there is one thing always holding them back: the injuries. Once again, it’s become the defining storyline for their playoff push, turning what was supposed to be a star-powered contender in the Eastern Conference into a depleted test for survival to stay alive in the playoff race.
After a demoralizing 131-91 blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night, the team looked utterly lost. They were without Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Paul George. And then on Wednesday night vs. the Utah Jazz, they were without VJ Edgecombe, which added to the injury-riddled struggles. They ended up breaking their three-game losing streak, but it wasn’t a pretty game against a Jazz team that was caught actively benching their starters in the fourth quarter earlier in the season as a form of tanking.
The win has the Sixers at 34-28, which is still good for sixth in the East. They remain in a guaranteed playoff spot, but the Orlando Magic are only one game out, and if the Sixers continue to slide, they’ll be playing in a play-in game in mid-April. It doesn’t help that the East is full of playoff-level teams, and the next 20 games are going to be super hard for Philadelphia. They’ll have to face multiple teams ahead of them in both conferences, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons twice, the Denver Nuggets, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Spurs, and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even just a little slip-up could have this team in a play-in spot, as the Sixers have shown us they can lose to teams that are extremely out of the playoff race.
The injury list is demoralizing. Embiid hasn’t played since the end of February with an oblique strain, not to mention he also has shin issues. He’s being re-evaluated after being sidelined for a scheduled three contests, but a pattern of his lower-body issues has still limited him to 33 games so far this season. Paul George remains suspended due to violating the anti-drug policy, and he’s still got 10 games left before he can return on March 25. And to make matters worse, Edgecombe is uncertain after the lumbar contusion he suffered in the loss to the Spurs. Kelly Oubre Jr. missed his second straight game due to illness last night, but it makes the depth they have way worse. Even Johni Broome, who tore his meniscus, is done for the year, and he is someone who could’ve provided much-needed depth.
Without their big three core of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and George, the Sixers have leaned heavily on Maxey, who’s averaging 38.3 minutes, which is the highest in the league. Maxey has carried the offense all year, averaging 28.9 points, but the cracks are starting to show. After the All-Star break, his shooting has taken a dip, with an increased rate of turnovers and defensive strains. The team is currently 13-16 without Embiid this season, and they’re 21-12 when he does play, showing how much they rely on the almost 32-year-old for his spacing, rebounding, and paint protection.
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The depth has shown flashes, but it has also exposed a ton of cracks. Jabari Walker has been picking up the pace recently, with back-to-back 20-point games and showing his talent with more playing time. Quentin Grimes remains a serviceable option off the bench to drill a three-pointer, and Andre Drummond and Adem Bona have logged extra minutes in the frontcourt, but rebounding and rim protection become extinct without the help of Embiid. Offensively, Maxey’s wizardry keeps them in games, but the third-quarter implosions and being blown out by halftime, which has happened three times this season, persist with no consistency at all.
The front office is also a huge factor in this. They failed to add any sort of depth at the trade deadline. Instead, they “sold high” on Jared McCain, according to Daryl Morey. McCain already has three 20-point games with the Thunder and has the second-most points on the team over the last ten games. Additions like Cam Payne, Tyrese Martin, and Dalen Terry are not adding much value, as they rank near the bottom in bench scoring and minutes. Neglecting the issues the Sixers had with the bench will haunt them, especially if the injuries linger into the playoffs. The Sixers could really be using a guy like McCain right now.
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The playoff outlook hangs on timelines. If Embiid returns soon and George follows up with solid production, the Sixers could surge as a dark horse in the East. A fully healthy star-powered lineup makes them match up pretty well, even against top teams in the East. But the prolonged absences risk them sliding into the play-in, or possibly out, where the health and seeding matter the most in a competitive Eastern Conference.
The win over the Jazz proved that even if it’s ugly, a win is a win. The upcoming tests they will face in the coming days and weeks will reveal if the injury-riddled stretch breaks them or builds momentum.
Andrew Glover
Andrew is in his first year covering sports for Philly Sports Reports. He is a podcaster and a digital content creator. Right now, he is in his second semester at Temple University pursuing a degree in Media Studies and Production. He has a certificate in Broadcast Journalism from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
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