Sixers' Joel Embiid diagnosed with appendicitis, set for surgery

Scooby Axson, USA TODAYThu, April 9, 2026 at 8:09 PM UTC

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Sixers' Joel Embiid diagnosed with appendicitis, set for surgery

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery in Houston, the team announced.

The 76ers are in town to play the Rockets as they cling to the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference with three games remaining in the regular season. Embiid had already been ruled out for Thursday's game because of an illness.

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix that causes pain in the lower right part of the belly, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Philadelphia (43-36) visits the Indiana Pacers on Friday before ending the season at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. The 76ers are one game back of the Toronto Raptors for the No. 6 seed to avoid participating in the play-in tournament.

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Embiid is averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 38 games this season. He left Monday's game against the San Antonio Spurs with an ankle injury.

The seven-time All-Star had come out publicly against the organization over his playing status, as they ruled him out of a game earlier this month after he had missed a morning practice. Embiid said he found out through social media that he would not be playing.

"I was pissed off. I wanted to play basketball," said Embiid, who has missed time this season because of right knee, shin and oblique injuries. "I wasn't allowed to play basketball, so I think this is more of a question of Daryl Morey or whoever makes the decisions."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 76ers' Joel Embiid has appendicitis, will have surgery

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