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Joel Embiid won't play in tomorrow's game against the Raptors

The Sixers center has not been cleared for back-to-back games yet.

Sixers center Joel Embiid dribbles the basketball during warm-ups before the Sixers play their home opener against the Boston Celtics on Friday.
Sixers center Joel Embiid dribbles the basketball during warm-ups before the Sixers play their home opener against the Boston Celtics on Friday.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
    by Keith Pompey | Columnist
    Published 

Joel Embiid said he won't play Saturday against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre.

The 76ers center said he has yet to be cleared to participate in back-to-back games. Embiid did not participate in the second half of back-to-back games last season in order to reduce risk of injury. Embiid missed most of the offseason recovering from surgery on his torn meniscus.

The Sixers host the Boston Celtics in Friday night's home opener at the Wells Fargo Center.

Embiid thinks he's ready to play on consecutive nights.

"But in the NBA,  I never played in back-to-backs so I can't really say," he said.

Embiid said he'll play in both games of some of the Sixers' 14 back-to-back situations. He's just not sure when.

Playing in back-to-backs is an important benchmark for franchise player.

"I just want to feel like an NBA player," he said. "I feel like I'm not an NBA player because I don't play back-to-backs"