76ers C Joel Embiid (appendicitis) out vs. Rockets

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery on Thursday afternoon in Houston, the team announced.

Embiid initially was ruled out for the game against the Rockets on Thursday night due to an illness.

The eighth-place 76ers (43-36) remain in a tight battle with several teams in the Eastern Conference, attempting to avoid the postseason play-in tournament. They are one full game in back of the sixth-place Toronto Raptors (44-35) with three games to play.

Embiid, 32, is averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 38 games (all starts) this season.

The 2022-23 MVP and a seven-time All-Star, Embiid is averaging 27.6 points and 10.8 rebounds in 490 career games (all starts) since being selected by Philadelphia with the third overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft.