Joel Embiid 'Was Pissed Off' About Missing Wizards Game, 76ers Star Talks Viral Posts After Illness

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid wasn't happy Wednesday when he was ruled out for his team's eventual 153-131 road win over the Washington Wizards with an illness.

Embiid returned to the lineup Friday and helped Philadelphia defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-103 at home. After the game, he made clear he was "pissed off" and that questions regarding why he didn't play should be directed toward 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey.

Embiid had 19 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks in the win over Minnesota.

Morey told the Philadelphia Inquirer's Gina Mizell that Embiid was ruled out "when he was too ill to make this morning's film session."

The big man played sick against Miami in a 119-109 road loss, but he still had 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes.

One can guess that it's possible the 76ers held Embiid back on Wednesday because they were playing a 17-59 Wizards team currently sporting the NBA's worst record. As great as Embiid is as his best, the 76ers didn't need him to score 153 points in a rout over a rebuilding squad. Miami, which is fighting for a playoff spot and has one of the best centers in the league in Bam Adebayo, posted a bigger threat.

Certainly, Embiid isn't happy with Philadelphia holding him out, and the story continued Friday after he was asked about it.

Ultimately, the decision is probably going to be water under the bridge soon enough. Philadelphia is hanging onto the sixth and final confirmed playoff spot right now and wants to avoid falling into the play-in tournament. The 76ers have five games left and need Embiid for as many of them as possible as they hope to return to the playoffs after missing them last year.