NBA Player News

Embiid (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of the season by the 76ers, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Embiid has been managing a left knee issue all season and has been shut down for the rest of the year. The one-time NBA MVP showed flashes of his dominant form over the course of the 2024-25 campaign for Philadelphia but simply couldn't stay on the floor consistently, resulting in the team ruling him out for the remaining 24 regular-season games. Andre Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele will likely see a significant boost in minutes with the superstar big man on the mend.

Plumlee tallied four points (1-1 FG, 2-4 FT), eight rebounds and one block in 18 minutes in Thursday's 124-116 loss to the Pelicans.

Plumlee didn't do anything outstanding, but he provided steady center play off the bench Thursday. The veteran journeyman started a stretch of 11 games in December and January before being benched in favor of trade acquisition Nick Richards. Since returning to the bench, in 18 games, the 34-year-old is averaging 4.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game.

Gobert (back) will not play in Friday's game against Utah.

Gobert will now miss his sixth consecutive game due to his back injury, and it is uncertain when he will return. With Julius Randle (groin), Anthony Edwards (suspension) and Gobert all out, Minnesota will turn to its second unit to step up in Friday's matchup with the Jazz. Naz Reid will likely start again in Gobert's absence.

The Spurs will sign Biyombo to a contract for the remainder of the season following the expiration of his second 10-day pact, NBA reporter Chris Haynes reports.

The veteran center impressed the Spurs enough to earn a rest-of-season contract, and he should continue to see significant playing time with Victor Wembanyama (shoulder) out for the season. Biyombo has started in all five appearances with San Antonio, averaging 6.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while shooting 66.7 percent from the field in 19.0 minutes per game. He logged back-to-back outings with a double-double in that five-game span.

Porzingis (illness) is questionable for Friday's game against Cleveland, Taylor Snow of the Celtics' official site reports.

Porzingis was a late addition to the injury report due to the non-COVID illness. The big man missed Tuesday's win over the Raptors due to an illness, though he was able to suit up during Wednesday's loss to Detroit, during which he posted 11 points (4-11 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 1-3 FT), three steals, two rebounds and one assist over 26 minutes. If Porzingis is sidelined Friday, Al Horford, Luke Kornet (personal) and Neemias Queta are all candidates for a bump in minutes.

Embiid (knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against Golden State, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Embiid will miss his third consecutive contest due to the left knee injury, and his next chance to play will come Monday against Portland. However, the star big man was held out of Friday's practice, which bodes poorly for his return to game action by Monday. Embiid has appeared in only eight outings since Jan. 1, averaging 23.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 0.9 blocks across 31.5 minutes per contest.

Embiid (knee) did not participate in Friday's practice, Kyle Neubeck of AllPHLY.com reports.

Embiid has missed the club's last two outings due to the left knee injury, and his absence from practices does not bode well for his potential return ahead of Saturday's game against the Warriors. The Sixers are expected to update the star big man's status Friday afternoon, though he can be considered questionable at best for Saturday's contest until then. Embiid has appeared in only eight games since Jan. 1, averaging 23.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 0.9 blocks across 31.5 minutes per contest.

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said prior to Thursday's 111-102 loss to the Lakers that Gobert (back) and Julius Randle (groin) are both "close" to playing in games, but no formal target date for either player has been established, Charlie Walton of ZoneCoverage.com reports. "We don't anticipate either of them in the near, near future, but they are both going in the right direction," Finch said of Gobert and Randle.

Though Minnesota returned Donte DiVincenzo (toe) from an extended absence Thursday, the team looks as though it'll have to wait a bit longer to get back to full strength while Gobert and Randle are on the mend from injuries. Based on Finch's comments, Gobert and Randle can both be ruled out for the second leg of Minnesota's back-to-back set Friday in Utah, and a return from either player in the final game of the road trip Sunday in Phoenix may be ambitious. Naz Reid and Jalen McDaniels should continue to benefit from elevated playing time in the frontcourt until Gobert and Randle return. Gobert hasn't played since Feb. 12 due to low back injury maintenance.

Reid recorded three points (1-10 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds and two assists across 31 minutes during Thursday's 111-102 loss to the Lakers.

Reid delivered an abysmal performance from the field, recording single-digit points for the 13th matchup this season. The big man also failed to hit a three-pointer for just the eighth time during the 2024-25 campaign. On the bright side, Reid logged at least 10 rebounds for the seventh time across his last 10 outings, and he has reached double-digit rebounds in 10 outings this season.

Holmgren is listed as questionable for Friday's game against Atlanta due to a right calf contusion, Clemente Almanza of USA Today reports.

Holmgren was a late addition to the injury report due to the calf contusion, which is a new injury for the big man. If the 22-year-old is sidelined, Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams are candidates for an uptick in playing time. Over his last five outings, Holmgren has averaged 16.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals across 28.6 minutes per contest.