Embiid to undergo surgery for appendicitis

Embiid, who was already ruled out for Thursday's game against the Rockets due to illness, last played on Monday against the Spurs, recording 34 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. The Cameroonian center has been limited to just 38 games this season due to knee and oblique injuries.

His absence is a significant blow to the 76ers' playoff hopes, as Philadelphia entered Thursday as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The team can finish as high as fifth or as low as ninth with just three games remaining, and is seeking to make the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season.