Joel Embiid, Paul George to miss 76ers’ game against Cavaliers

Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Paul George will miss Wednesday’s home game against the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers due to injury management.

Embiid and George sit out the second game of the Sixers’ back-to-back as the team takes a long-term approach with both players and their return from left knee issues.

Embiid made his season debut in Tuesday’s 111-99 loss to the New York Knicks, and George returned last week from a bone bruise in his left knee.

The 76ers have been open since the preseason about how they intended to use Embiid this season — managing his minutes and playing games to the point where they can safely navigate him to the postseason healthy for the first time in his career.

Embiid said after Tuesday’s game that he would lobby to play against the Cavs, playing down comments he made last month that he didn’t want to play back-to-back anymore.

“I know I said I never want to play back-to-back,” Embiid said, smiling, “but I’m a troll.”

Embiid shot just 2-for-11 and finished with 13 points and three rebounds as the Sixers dropped to 2-8 with Tuesday’s home loss.

George, who led the Sixers with 29 points, acknowledged he was still “learning” to play with Embiid, but added the 2022-23 MVP is “a force out there.”

Aside from Embiid and George, the Sixers will also be without star guard Tyrese Maxey, who will miss his fourth straight game Wednesday with a right hamstring strain. The trio have not played a match together.

The Cavaliers (12-0) are off to their best start to an NBA season since the 2015-16 Warriors, who won their first 24 games that season.

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and The Associated Press contributed to this report.