Updates on Joel Embiid, Paul George and the Sixers’ injuries ahead of the Pistons matchup – NBC Sports Philadelphia

CAMDEN, NJ – As they head to Detroit, the Sixers know they will be without at least two of the four players who missed the team’s overtime loss to the Rockets on Wednesday.

Joel Embiid (left knee injury/personal reasons) will miss his fourth straight game. Kyle Lowry will miss his fifth straight game with a right hip strain.

“The swelling has gone down a little bit,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said of Embiid’s troublesome knee after his team’s practice on Friday. “Still in pain. That’s about all I can say.”

Paul George, who has been sidelined since suffering a bone bruise in his left knee Nov. 20 in Memphis, participated in full practice. On Tuesday he said he planned to return “within the next week” and seemed to be on the right track. The Sixers have officially listed George as questionable for their Saturday night game against the Pistons.

“We had a lot of contact and played well too, so it was good to see,” Nurse said. “He looked pretty good out there.”

Caleb Martin was also upgraded to questionable after being sidelined against Houston with upper back soreness. He took part in part of Friday’s training.

Until the Rockets game, Martin had had noticeable physical problems several times at the beginning of this season, including in his right shoulder. After playing 13 minutes and shooting 1-for-8 from the field, the Sixers put an end to Martin’s night with their blowout loss to the Clippers.

“I try to accomplish as much as I can, and sometimes make a mistake,” Martin said. “That day I kind of knew it probably wasn’t right for my body. But we have guys who messed up and if I can leave, I’ll try. And sometimes it’s a mistake and it won’t be of the greatest benefit to me or the team if I do that. That’s just how I’ve always been. … You learn from it.”

Does Martin expect to be available against the Pistons?

“The plan is always to try to play,” he said. “Of course I have to take it day by day. I had a good day today. I’m definitely feeling better. … I know a lot of times people have told me not to play, and then I do. I will take it every day now. It will be up in the air, but if I can go, I will go.”

Whoever is on the field, the Sixers will again have a significant residual advantage against Detroit. The 8-12 Pistons will play their first straight game on Friday night at Indiana.

The 3-14 Sixers put together one of their better performances, albeit in a loss. Even if Martin returns, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Nurse stick with Guerschon Yabusele and Andre Drummond in the starting lineup. Yabusele was outstanding in a 22-point game against the Rockets and Drummond had a nice night as a rebounder and defender.

“I was really happy with that,” the nurse said. “I think it was a big step forward for me compared to four or five days ago when I was like, ‘Oh my God, it doesn’t look like they can work.’ I think we have clarified a lot of things organizationally for you. Even with very small (casts) at times, they were pretty good out there.

“I think if we tweak things a little more on offense, we can find some advantages there. If they make us really small and we stay that big, I think that has some advantages as long as we can come back and join them in the half-court defense.

“I think Guerschon is good enough in transition. Drummond is pretty good at patrolling back there, protecting the rim and protecting the paint. … They try to exploit the inconsistencies and take the small out of the big … but I think they handled it well. A lot better than I might have thought, so that’s encouraging.”