Is Joel Embiid playing tonight vs the San Antonio Spurs? Latest update on the Philadelphia 76ers star’s injury report (March 3, 2026) | NBA News
Joel Embiid will not play when the Philadelphia 76ers host the Spurs on March 3, 2026. He has been ruled out with a strained right oblique.The injury was confirmed by MRI on February 28 after Embiid left a recent win over Miami. He is expected to miss at least three games. The earliest he could return is March 7 against the Atlanta Hawks.Philadelphia enters the game at 33-26, fourth in the Atlantic Division. San Antonio arrives with a 43-17 record and leads the Southwest Division.
Joel Embiid’s Injury Status vs San Antonio Spurs (March 3, 2026)
The league’s 4:45 PM ET injury report lists Joel Embiid as out for the 7:00 PM ET tipoff. The strain occurred during game action and will keep him sidelined for multiple contests.With Embiid unavailable, Andre Drummond is expected to start at center. Adem Bona should handle backup minutes. They will match up against Victor Wembanyama in the paint.76ers Injury ReportPhiladelphia will also be without several other players.
76ers Injury Report – March 3, 2026
| Player | Status | Reason |
| Joel Embiid | Out | Right oblique strain |
| Paul George | Out | League suspension |
| Johni Broome | Out | Right knee surgery |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. | Out | Illness |
MarJon Beauchamp is not available due to G-League assignment. Tyrese Martin and Dalen Terry are active on two-way contracts.
Expected Active Philadelphia 76ers Players
| Player | Position |
| Tyrese Maxey | Guard |
| Quentin Grimes | Guard |
| Kyle Lowry | Guard |
| Trendon Watford | Forward |
| Dominick Barlow | Forward |
| VJ Edgecombe | Guard |
| Justin Edwards | Forward |
| Adem Bona | Center |
| Andre Drummond | Center |
Tyrese Maxey is likely to take on a larger scoring role.
Spurs Injury Report (March 3, 2026)
San Antonio has a shorter injury list.
Spurs Injury Report – March 3, 2026
| Player | Status | Reason |
| Mason Plumlee | Out | Return to competition reconditioning |
| Harrison Ingram | Out | G-League |
| David Jones Garcia | Out | G-League |
| Emanuel Miller | Out | G-League |
Expected Active Spurs Players
| Player | Position |
| De’Aaron Fox | Guard |
| Victor Wembanyama | Forward/Center |
| Devin Vassell | Guard |
| Keldon Johnson | Forward |
| Stephon Castle | Guard |
| Harrison Barnes | Forward |
| Julian Champagnie | Forward |
| Dylan Harper | Guard |
| Kelly Olynyk | Forward/Center |
| Bismack Biyombo | Center |
What This Means for the Game
Without Embiid, Philadelphia loses its primary inside scorer and rim protector. Drummond and Bona will need to handle the minutes at center. Maxey will be relied upon heavily on offense.Also read: San Antonio Spurs vs Philadelphia 76ers injury report: Who’s playing, injured and questionable players, head-to-head records, team stats, and more (March 3, 2026)San Antonio comes in healthier and with a strong frontcourt presence in Wembanyama. The betting line has shifted toward the Spurs ahead of tipoff at 7:00 PM ET.
