Why is Joel Embiid not playing tonight against Kings? Latest on 76ers MVP's absence (Jan. 1)

The Philadelphia 76ers will face the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday without their superstar Joel Embiid, who has been ruled out for "rest" purposes. Embiid played in the Sixers' previous game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, leading the team to a dominant 125-103 victory at the Moda Center. The 7-foot center delivered his best performance of the season, posting 37 points in 36 minutes of action.

He shot an efficient 12 of 21 from the field, including 1 of 1 from beyond the arc, while adding nine rebounds and three assists.

The decision to rest Embiid is primarily driven by the team’s schedule as the Sixers are set to play on back-to-back nights. With a matchup against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, the franchise opted to rest Embiid for the first game of the back-to-back to manage his workload.

Earlier this season, Joel Embiid addressed the narrative surrounding his availability in back-to-back games. The seven-time All-Star clarified that the decision is not entirely his but is made in collaboration with the team and medical staff.

"I mean, I want to.," Embiid said. "That’s up to those guys. I know I said I’ll never play back-to-backs, but I’m a troll so I’m sure at some point, I’ll play, but if I feel good. I feel good right now. We’re gonna see, but it’s up to them."

How to watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. Sacramento Kings?

The Philadelphia 76ers vs. Sacramento Kings game is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Jan. 1, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. The tip off is slated for 10:00 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PT).

The Sixers vs. Kings game will be telecast live on NBCS-CA (local) and NBCS-PH (local) while the hoops fans will also have the option to stream the game live on the NBA League Pass and Fubo TV app and website (regional restrictions may apply).