In a disappointing turn of events for the Philadelphia 76ers, star player Joel Embiid will be sitting out the team's final game of the regular season against the Brooklyn Nets. The Sixers were hoping for a win to secure the East's sixth seed, but they will now have to face the challenge without their key player.

Minutes before tip-off, the Sixers announced that Embiid, along with De'Anthony Melton and KJ Martin, will be sidelined for the game. Both Embiid and Melton are recovering from injuries, with Embiid nursing a left knee issue and Melton dealing with a lower back problem. Meanwhile, Martin has missed three games due to a left toe contusion.

Despite the absence of the reigning MVP and two other rotation players, the Sixers still have a good chance of securing a victory against the Nets. Brooklyn itself is facing a depleted roster with nine players ruled out, including important regulars such as Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Dennis Schroder.

Interestingly, it seems that the Nets have been electing to play Mikal Bridges solely to maintain his streak of consecutive games played, as he has been absent from the last two fourth quarters. This marks the second consecutive close game where Bridges has sat out during the final quarter.

With ample firepower at their disposal, the Sixers will look to end their regular season on a high note despite the absence of their star player. Fans will be eagerly watching to see how they fare in their final game, and whether they can secure the coveted sixth seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

The game will undoubtedly be a test of resilience for Philadelphia, as they navigate through injuries and aim to finish the regular season strong.