Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was not in the lineup against the Detroit Pistons due to plantar fasciitis management despite the former MVP's attempts to appear in the team's first back-to-back of the season.
"I actually want to play tomorrow, so can you guys put pressure on them," Embiid told reporters after Saturday's win over the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN's Kris Rhim.
Embiid doubled down, saying: "I want to play tomorrow, so start writing articles and put pressure on them so they'll let me play."
The 32-year-old notched his 10th career triple-double, recording 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a dominant display in the 127-116 victory over the winless Bucks.
The Sixers are keen to keep Embiid fresh for the 2026-27 campaign after a series of injuries limited the seven-time All-Star to just 96 games across the last three seasons.
Embiid's absence leaves Nick Nurse with a threadbare frontcourt for the visit from the Pistons. Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker, and Tacko Fall will all miss out through injury, leaving Adem Bona as the only true center on the roster. Forward Dean Wade, who made his Sixers debut Saturday, is likely to get some minutes at center.
The Pistons will be without All-Star center Jalen Duren, who's expected to miss at least two weeks with a hamstring strain.
