Philadelphia could be without several key players as Embiid manages a right foot injury and James continues recovering from lower back and sciatica problems.

PHILADELPHIA — November 12, 2026 — The Philadelphia 76ers are facing significant injury concerns ahead of Thursday night's NBA matchup against the Toronto Raptors, with star center Joel Embiid uncertain to play and veteran forward LeBron James officially ruled out.

Embiid is listed as questionable while managing a right foot plantar fascia issue, an injury that has already forced him to miss two games this season.

James, meanwhile, will not participate because of ongoing lower back and sciatica management.

The potential absence of both players creates additional challenges for a Philadelphia team already dealing with injuries to several frontcourt contributors.

Joel Embiid Uncertain About Playing Against Toronto

Embiid acknowledged Thursday that he was unsure whether he would be available against the Raptors.

The former NBA Most Valuable Player said his participation would depend on the assessment and recommendations of Philadelphia's medical staff.

The 76ers have been cautious with the center's right foot condition, attempting to balance his availability with the need to prevent further physical setbacks.

Embiid has already missed two games this season because of the injury.

Philadelphia has recorded one victory and one defeat in those contests.

His uncertain status leaves the coaching staff preparing for multiple possibilities ahead of Thursday's matchup.

If Embiid cannot play, the Sixers will be forced to adjust their frontcourt rotation significantly.

LeBron James Ruled Out With Back and Sciatica Issues

James will also miss Thursday's contest as Philadelphia continues managing his lower back and sciatica symptoms.

Despite being unavailable, the veteran participated in portions of the team's shootaround activities.

According to ESPN, James remained on the court after several teammates had finished, practicing free throws.

The 41-year-old superstar, who will turn 42 in December, is expected to have several days to recover before his next possible appearance.

Philadelphia does not play Friday or Saturday, providing a short break before a challenging stretch of games.

The Sixers are scheduled to face the Indiana Pacers on Sunday before traveling to Brooklyn to play the Nets on Monday.

Because James generally sits out at least one game during back-to-back sets, his next appearance could come against either Indiana or Brooklyn.

However, the team has not confirmed a specific return date.

LeBron James' Numbers With Philadelphia This Season

Through 10 appearances this season, James has contributed across multiple statistical categories.

<box border radius="lg" padding={3} gap={2}> <text weight="medium">LeBron James — 2026–27 Season</text> <grid columns={3} gap={2}> {#each [{v:"15.1",l:"Points"},{v:"7.2",l:"Rebounds"},{v:"6.5",l:"Assists"}] as s} <grid-item> <box align="center" gap="2px"> <title size="xl" tabularNums>{s.v}</title> <text color="secondary" size="2xs">{s.l} per game</text> </box> </grid-item> {/each} </grid> <caption>Reported averages through 10 games, according to the supplied ESPN article.</caption> </box>

Although his scoring average is lower than during many earlier stages of his career, James continues to contribute as a playmaker and rebounder.

His experience and ability to organize the offense remain valuable assets for Philadelphia.

Without him, the Sixers will need other players to assume additional responsibilities in ball movement, scoring and offensive decision-making.

Philadelphia's Frontcourt Depth Takes Another Hit

The 76ers' injury problems extend beyond Embiid and James.

Two additional frontcourt players have already been ruled out against Toronto.

Adem Bona is unavailable because of a cervical spine sprain, while Dominick Barlow will miss the game with a back injury.

Their absences could leave Philadelphia particularly vulnerable in the paint if Embiid is also unable to participate.

The team may need to rely on smaller lineups and alternative defensive strategies to compensate for its limited interior depth.

Rebounding, rim protection and defending Toronto's inside scoring opportunities could become major concerns.

The situation also places additional pressure on Philadelphia's healthy rotation players to provide consistent minutes.

Joel Embiid Struggling to Find His Offensive Rhythm

Beyond his injury concerns, Embiid has experienced a challenging start to the 2026–27 season.

The center is averaging 17.7 points per game, a figure that would represent a career low if maintained throughout the season.

His three-point shooting has also been unusually inconsistent.

According to ESPN, Embiid is converting just 12.1% of his attempts from beyond the arc.

Those numbers reflect a difficult offensive adjustment for a player who has traditionally been one of the NBA's most productive scorers.

Embiid acknowledged that his approach has contributed to the slow start.

He suggested that he needs to become more assertive when creating opportunities, both for himself and for his teammates.

The center emphasized the importance of making decisive offensive plays rather than allowing his reduced aggressiveness to affect his overall performance.

How the Injuries Could Affect the Raptors Matchup

Toronto could benefit from Philadelphia's limited frontcourt options.

If Embiid is unavailable, the Raptors may find additional opportunities to attack the basket and compete for rebounds.

James' absence would also remove an experienced offensive organizer from Philadelphia's lineup.

For the Sixers, controlling the pace and limiting second-chance opportunities could become particularly important.

The coaching staff may need to distribute minutes differently and place greater emphasis on perimeter scoring.

However, the final impact will depend on Embiid's availability and the lineup combinations Philadelphia chooses to use.

Upcoming Philadelphia 76ers Schedule

DateOpponentLocationThursday, November 12Toronto RaptorsPhiladelphiaSunday, November 15Indiana PacersPhiladelphiaMonday, November 16Brooklyn NetsBrooklyn

James could potentially return during the upcoming back-to-back stretch, although his participation remains dependent on the team's injury-management decisions.

Embiid's status will also continue to be monitored as Philadelphia attempts to keep its key players healthy.

What Philadelphia Needs Moving Forward

The 76ers face the challenge of remaining competitive while managing the health of several important players.

For Embiid, the priority will be recovering sufficiently from his foot condition while rebuilding his offensive confidence.

For James, the focus remains on managing his back and sciatica symptoms before returning to the lineup.

Philadelphia must also navigate the absences of Bona and Barlow, particularly when facing opponents with strong interior players.

The coming games could test the team's depth and ability to adapt to an unsettled rotation.

Final Thoughts

Philadelphia enters Thursday's matchup against Toronto with considerable uncertainty surrounding its lineup.

LeBron James has been ruled out, while Joel Embiid's availability remains questionable because of ongoing right foot management.

The confirmed absences of Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow further complicate the Sixers' preparation.

With several frontcourt players unavailable or uncertain, Philadelphia will need a collective effort to overcome its injury challenges and remain competitive against the Raptors.

The immediate priority is Thursday's game, but the longer-term concern will be keeping the team's most important players healthy as the NBA season progresses.

This article is a rewritten English-language adaptation of ESPN's November 12, 2026, report by Kris Rhim, with information also attributed to The Associated Press. Player availability and injury designations reflect the original report and may change.