Detroit Pistons Vs. Philadelphia 76ers Injury Report: Updates On Duren, Thompson, Embiid

With multiple injuries on each team, both the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers are going to have to go a bit deeper on the bench for tonight’s Eastern Conference matchup. 

Pre-game update: Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson are both inactive for the Pistons. VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid are sitting out tonight for the Sixers. 

Tip-off is set for 7:30 between the two undefeated squads, but the Pistons have already announced that they’ll be taking the court without All-Star center Jalen Duren, who has already been ruled out due to a right hamstring strain. According to the team, Duren is set to be reevaluated in two weeks, so he was fortunate to avoid a major injury against the Miami Heat on Friday night. 

Sticking on the Pistons side of the battle, Ausar Thompson suffered a right ankle sprain in the second half against the Heat, which spelled a short end to his night as well. Although AT was not involved in Detroit’s shootaround earlier today, he is currently a game-time decision.

Switching over to the 76ers, LeBron James was held out of their victory over the Milwaukee Bucks last night, but his absence from today’s injury report suggests that he will be part of the Philly starting lineup against the Pistons. Throughout the 2026-27 season, James is not expected to participate in both legs of back-to-backs, so this strategy falls right in line with that sustainability-focused protocol. 

But much like Detroit, it looks like the 76ers will be playing without their dominant big man in the middle since Joel Embiid has been ruled out due to right plantation fasciitis management. So, the potential Duren versus Embiid matchup that was set for tonight’s battle will have to wait for another occasion, though Paul Reed is expected to fill JD’s place in the starting lineup for the Pistons after his 19-point, 11-rebound effort against Miami two nights ago. 

However, Philadelphia’s frontcourt concerns do not end there. On top of Embiid’s injury, the Sixers are slated to play without Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker or Taco Fall with a physical Detroit squad on the docket that likes to control the boards and score in the low post. Walker is currently working through left knee soreness, while Barlow will be sidelined for two weeks with a lumbar spine bone stress response that requires some time away from the court. Both players can slide between the three and the five for Philly, so their physical presences will be missed heading into a game without two important big men (Embiid and Fall) as well. 

Since Thompson is currently a game-time decision, the Pistons have a decision to make among their two-way players. It would make sense for Isaac Jones to be activated for tonight’s contest since Duren is unavailable, but AT’s situation is less clear at the moment. If he’s unable to go, then expect Elijah Harkless to have an opportunity tonight for the 7:30 road game at Xfinity Mobile Arena.