The Philadelphia 76ers announced that Joel Embiid and Paul George will both miss Wednesday’s season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Embiid, who did not play in the preseason for what the team called left knee injury management, will miss not only Wednesday’s game, but also Friday’s game at Toronto and Sunday’s game at Indiana. The 76ers said Embiid is “responding well to his individualized plan” and will increase his return-to-play activities this week, including implementing scrimmages.

George will be re-evaluated later this week after suffering a hyperextended left knee that left him with a bone bruise on Oct. 14 against the Atlanta Hawks.

The other currently injured 76ers player, rookie Jared McCain, will have his status for Wednesday’s game updated later Tuesday after suffering a lung contusion in a heavy fall against the Brooklyn Nets last week.

Going back to the beginning of training camp, the 76ers have made it clear that they are going to take an extremely cautious approach to Embiid and George when it comes to getting them healthy through the season and into the playoffs. Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told ESPN earlier this month that Philadelphia would try to keep both stars out of back-to-backs this season.

“There have been no setbacks,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse told reporters on Tuesday. “He’s very active. He’s lost some weight. He’s on the field. We’re just sticking to our plan to make sure we get to a really, really good spot before we play him live.”

Embiid has lost 25 to 30 pounds, hoping to lose even more, and will continue to wear a brace on his left knee, despite this being something Embiid would rather not do, instead opting to keep it as structurally stable and protected as possible. .

Last season he played only 39 games due to knee injuries. Embiid returned in time to play the New York Knicks in the playoffs, but he did so at less than 100% — and that was before dealing with a sudden-onset case of Bell’s palsy during the series. He played for Team USA this summer and helped the Americans win a fifth straight gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

George signed a four-year contract worth up to $212 million with the 76ers this summer after spending the past five years with the LA Clippers alongside Kawhi Leonard. Embiid signed a three-year max extension this summer to stay with the only franchise he’s ever played for well into his 30s.

The 76ers also signed rising star guard Tyrese Maxey to a maximum five-year contract, re-signed veterans Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kyle Lowry and signed free agents Eric Gordon, Caleb Martin and Andre Drummond.