Overview
- Philadelphia ruled out Joel Embiid with right knee injury management for a second straight week of games, marking his eighth consecutive absence after a brief upgrade to questionable.
- Paul George was downgraded from probable to out with a right ankle sprain, and coach Nick Nurse said the team is still evaluating the issue.
- Tyrese Maxey was cleared to play through a right shoulder sprain and is set to shoulder the offensive load.
- Five rotation players are out for the 76ers — Embiid, George, Kelly Oubre Jr., VJ Edgecombe and Adem Bona — for the group-stage matchup at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
- Group stakes are significant as the 76ers are 0-2 and could be eliminated with a loss, while the 2-0 Magic will be without Paolo Banchero due to a groin strain.