76ers rule out injured Joel Embiid, Paul George vs. Pistons - ESPN

CAMDEN, N.J. — The season debuts for Joel Embiid and Paul George remain on hold for the Philadelphia 76ers as both players will miss Wednesday's game against the Detroit Pistons with knee injuries.

Embiid and George participated in portions of Tuesday's practice and their playing status will be reassessed later in the week.

Sixers coach Nick Nurse declined to elaborate on their health and potential timeline to return to the lineup.

«We want these guys to play and we want them to be healthy and we want them to play great and we want them to play great all season,» Nurse said Tuesday. «Then my main focus is, I've got to do the job that I've got to do. I've got to try to get this team to play as good as it can tomorrow night. That takes a big chunk of my focus.»

George has yet to make his Sixers debut after he signed a four-year, $212 million contract as a free agent this summer. The 34-year-old has a bone bruise but did not suffer any structural damage when he hyperextended his left knee during a preseason game.

A nine-time All-Star, George was injured when his knee buckled on a defensive play.

Embiid, 30, who won an Olympic gold medal in Paris with Team USA, has been out with what the team calls left knee management. He did not play in the preseason.

The NBA is investigating why Embiid did not play in the team's nationally televised season opener against Milwaukee.

The league confirmed the investigation was opened as part of the NBA's player participation policy that went into effect last season.

Embiid and George missed both games of a road trip against Toronto and Indiana. Without them, the 76ers are 1-2 headed into Wednesday's home game against the Pistons. Tyrese Maxey scored 10 of Philadelphia's 13 overtime points