The Philadelphia 76ers’ season has gone from frustrating to downright bizarre. What started as a promising campaign with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George leading the charge has now unraveled into an injury-riddled mess. And just when it seemed like things couldn’t get worse, the NBA might have just thrown another wrench into Philly’s plans.
With a crucial matchup against the Dallas Mavericks coming up, the conversation isn’t just about who’s stepping onto the court—it’s also about who’s missing. The Sixers are once again rolling into battle severely short-handed, and let’s be honest, this injury list is getting a little too long to ignore. Now, with the league sniffing around for potential violations of the Player Participation Policy, the Sixers might have more to worry about than just surviving this brutal road trip.
76ers’ Latest Injury Report: More Bad News for Philly
At this point, it’s beyond ridiculous. The Sixers are heading to Dallas with what feels like an entire squad stuck on the injury report, and the headliners make it even worse.
Paul George is out with left groin soreness, and Tyrese Maxey is sidelined with a lower back sprain and a finger sprain. Nick Nurse hinted that Maxey might return during this six-game road trip, but for now, he’s still unavailable. As for George? His situation is even murkier—he’s still consulting doctors, and there’s no clear timetable for his return.
And then, of course, there’s Joel Embiid, whose season-ending knee injury flipped Philly’s entire outlook. Eric Gordon is also done for the year after wrist surgery, while Jared McCain recovers from meniscus surgery. But wait—there’s more. Kyle Lowry, Andre Drummond, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Lonnie Walker IV are all sidelined with various injuries. And just when it seemed like the Sixers couldn’t add another name to the list, rookie Adem Bona joined them with a left ankle sprain.
Philly isn’t just short-handed—they’re practically fielding a G-League squad.
Another lengthy injury report for tomorrow. Adem Bona has been added to the injury report as he’s out due to a left ankle sprain. #Sixers pic.twitter.com/vJxCjyy0js
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) March 15, 2025
The Sixers are scrambling to fill the gaps, and they’re expected to make another roster move before tip-off. Reports suggest that Chuma Okeke is signing a 10-day contract, giving him another shot after a brief stint with the team in February. Earlier this week, the Sixers also brought in Oshae Brissett on a 10-day deal. At this point, both of them might have to play real minutes, because, well… who else is left?
With all these absences, Philly is heading into this game completely outmatched. Mavericks are waiting, and let’s just say they’re not going to take it easy on a team that’s barely holding itself together.
NBA Investigation Looms Over the 76ers
As if the injuries weren’t bad enough, now the league is getting involved. According to Shams Charania, the NBA has launched an investigation into whether the Sixers are violating the Player Participation Policy—the same rule that just cost the Utah Jazz a $100,000 fine.
The issue? George and Maxey have been out since March 4, and Embiid hasn’t played since February. And with Philly’s top-six protected draft pick hanging in the balance, people are starting to ask questions. If the Sixers finish outside the top six, that pick goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s not hard to connect the dots—if they slip far enough down the standings, they keep their first-round selection. That’s led to some speculation: are these injuries all legitimate, or is Philly playing the long game to protect that draft pick?
Jan 24, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) passes the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Now, to be fair, Charania did note that the injuries appear real—this isn’t some blatant, over-the-top tank job. But the league has made one thing very clear: if they find anything shady, penalties are coming.
So now the Sixers find themselves in a tricky spot. They’re barely holding on with this depleted roster, trying to stay competitive in a brutal stretch of games, and now they have to deal with the league watching their every move. It’s just one more thing to pile onto what has already been an exhausting season.
But whether this is just a run of bad luck or something more calculated, one thing is for sure—this Sixers drama isn’t going away anytime soon.
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