Joel Embiid Out Tonight vs Detroit with Back Tightness

Sixers center Joel Embiid is out for Monday's matchup against the Detroit Pistons, according to head coach Doc Rivers who says it is for precautionary reasons.

Embiid is reportedly suffering back tightness.

Embiid was listed as questionable for Saturday's game vs. the Pistons but wound up scoring 33 points with 14 rebounds in a team-high 35 minutes.

Expect Dwight Howard to start in his place of Embiid tonight, with Tony Bradley getting some more minutes in a backup role.

So far this season Embiid is playing at an MVP level, scoring 27.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.

The news comes on a day where Embiid was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Embiid led the NBA with 113 total points (37.7 per game) and 43 made free throws, while shooting .611 from the field, .444 from beyond the arc and .811 from the free-throw line.

Embiid joins Hall of Famers Charles Barkley (six times) and Allen Iverson (20) as the only players ever to earn the award at least five times as 76ers since its inception in 1979-80.