76ers' Jahlil Okafor: Ruled out for Thursday

Okafor (illness) has officially been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Pelicans, Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

Analysis:

It was reported earlier in the week that Okafor wasn't expected to travel with the team to New Orleans, so this is merely a confirmation that he won't be available. Joel Embiid is back in the lineup and should start at center while facing a 28-minute restriction, leaving Richaun Holmes to pick up most of the spare minutes at the position that would have gone to Okafor. Look for Okafor to shoot for a return ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Pistons, assuming he's fully recovered from the stomach flu by that time.