LeBron James will sit out his third game of the early 2026-27 season for the Philadelphia 76ers’ matchup with the Toronto Raptors on Thursday.

James is listed on the Sixers’ injury report as out with “low back/sciatica management,” which has been the reason he’s sat two of Philadelphia’s previous 12 games this season.

The 41-year-old was listed as questionable until participating in Thursday’s shootaround. He was then downgraded.

Joel Embiid could also be out for Thursday’s game, but his status appears to be a game-time decision. He’s listed on the injury report as questionable with “right foot plantar fascia injury management,” which has also sidelined him for two of the Sixers’ game in the early season.

“I have no idea,” Embiid said when asked by ESPN’s Kris Rhim if he was playing versus the Raptors. “We’ll see what they have to say and then we’ll go from there.”

Thursday’s game is not part of a back-to-back for the 76ers, so that is not a consideration in sitting James and possibly resting Embiid. Philadelphia last played on Tuesday, losing 123-101 to the Boston Celtics in the hyped first meeting between former teammates Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

However, the Sixers do play back-to-back games on Sunday and Monday, hosting the Indiana Pacers then visiting the Brooklyn Nets.

So far this season, James is averaging 15.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists on 43% shooting from the floor. Embiid is scoring 17.7 points per game with 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He is also shooting 37%, while making only 4 of 33 (12%) 3-point attempts.

If Embiid doesn’t play, Philadelphia will be short-handed at center with Adem Bona (cervical spine sprain) and Dominick Barlow (low back stress reaction) also out for Thursday.

James started at center when Embiid was sidelined on Oct. 25 versus the Detroit Pistons. But with him out, the Sixers could go small with 6-foot-7 Jabari Walker in the middle, or perhaps play 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall for only the second time this season.