April 09, 2026
Scott Wachter/Imagn Images
Joel Embiid was just ruled out for Thursday's pivotal game in Houston.
Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery on Thursday afternoon in Houston, the Sixers said.
Embiid, who first revealed he was dealing with an injury after a March 30 loss to the Miami Heat, was suddenly ruled out for Thursday night's game against the Rockets at 12:15 p.m. in Houston with an illness designation.
Embiid had not been listed on any of the team's prior injury reports for the game.
Two hours and change later, the Sixers announced the appendicitis diagnosis, which could very well end Embiid's season. Only three games remain in the regular season, which ends on Sunday. The Sixers could be playing a postseason game as soon as Tuesday depending on where they land in the Eastern Conference standings.
A few recent examples of appendicitis diagnoses in the NBA suggest this will be, at the very least, a multi-week absence for Embiid:
Some semi-recent NBA appendectomies and the eventual return timelines:
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) April 9, 2026
Channing Frye, 2017: Surgery on Feb. 17, returned on March 26
OG Anunoby, 2019: Surgery on April 11, returned on June 2 (but did not play)
Nikola Mirotić, 2016: Surgery on Jan. 27, returned on March 5
