Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been ruled out with an ankle injury prior to facing the Miami Heat.

The Miami Heat face the Philadelphia 76ers (20-8) Christmas Day in a battle between two top Eastern conference teams.

Well, at least now they won’t have to worry about 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was ruled out with an ankle injury Sunday afternoon. Embiid is averaging a league-best 35 points, once again leading the NBA in scoring and MVP odds. The 76ers star has 13 straight games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain in consecutive performances with those statistics.

The Heat won’t have to face the reigning MVP Monday night, but his absence is no guarantee for victory. Miami lost many games last season against teams missing their star players. In addition, there are others in Philadelphia that Miami has to account for.

Most of the attention now turns to 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, who is having an All-Star caliber start to the season. He is averaging 26.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists, ranking just outside the top 10 in scoring and assists. Maxey has taken over as the No. 2 option since James Harden’s departure, giving Philadelphia a star guard to pair with Embiid.

Tobias Harris is still a solid third option that can produce offensively. He is coming off a 33-point performance over the Toronto Raptors, displaying his ability to step up when needed.

Veteran wing Kelly Oubre Jr. was on a tear until his off-court injury in November. Still, his high-scoring performances early this season show how easily he can catch fire.

The Heat play the 76ers Monday at 8:00 p.m. The two have split the regular season series since 2022.