PHILADELPHIA -- 76ers center Joel Embiid missed his third straight game Friday night, a 123-115 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, because of a sprained left foot. He has sat out 23 times this season.

Without a healthy Joel Embiid, the 76ers were never expected to contend for an NBA title. But get taken to the final seconds before narrowly knocking off lowly Washington? Or worse, lose to the eight-win Pelicans only hours after star forward Zion Willamson was suspended one game for breaking team rules?

On Friday night, the Philadelphia 76ers will host the New Orleans Pelicans at the Wells Fargo Center. For the game, they will be without their best player, as