Joel Embiid is out against the Pistons and LeBron James is back as the 76ers swap stars on a back-to-back

Joel Embiid will sit out the second night of the Philadelphia 76ers‘ back-to-back against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, October 25, while LeBron James is back after resting on Saturday. The league’s official injury report lists Embiid as out with a foot issue, and James, who missed the win over Milwaukee to manage his lower back, is not listed at all.

The swap reshapes the unbeaten 76ers for a second straight night. Philadelphia beat the Bucks 127-116 without James, then lost another big man in that game: Jabari Walker limped off in the third quarter with a sore left knee and did not return. The team has ruled him out for Sunday as well.

Why Embiid sits

Embiid had left the door open after Saturday’s game, saying he had no idea whether he would play and that he wanted to. The decision fits the plan Philadelphia laid out before the season to keep both veteran stars to roughly 30 minutes a night in the early weeks, and Embiid went well past that on Saturday. He played 36 minutes and 12 seconds against Milwaukee, finishing with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and made 12 of his 14 free throws. On Thursday against Cleveland he scored 24 in a little over 34 minutes.

The 76ers have not given a timeline beyond Sunday. Their next game is not until Wednesday, which gives Embiid three days off before the trip to Indiana.

What it means for the rotation

James returns to a frontcourt that is short on size. He played 33 minutes in the win over Cleveland and filled the sheet with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, and with Embiid and Walker both out he is likely to spend more time as the biggest player on the floor. Coach Nick Nurse could keep Dean Wade in the starting lineup next to him; Wade started in James’s place on Saturday and had 7 points and 3 steals in 28 minutes.

Adem Bona is the most natural backup center. He has played about 14 and 10 minutes in the last two games, and Ariel Hukporti, signed as Embiid’s backup, is still out after injuring his Achilles in the preseason.

Detroit arrives without its own starting center. The Pistons have ruled out Jalen Duren with a right hamstring strain and will reevaluate him in two weeks. Ausar Thompson, questionable with a right ankle sprain, did not take part in Sunday’s shootaround.

What comes next

The Pistons visit the 76ers on Sunday, October 25, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Follow the lineups and the score in the Pistons-76ers Game Center. Philadelphia then plays at Indiana on Wednesday, October 28, at 7:00 p.m. ET (76ers-Pacers Game Center). The latest designations around the league are on the injuries page.