The Sixers ruled Joel Embiid out with an illness Thursday afternoon for their high-stakes matchup that night with the Rockets. The game is the first leg of a back-to-back that will conclude Friday night against the Pacers. Embiid hadn’t been listed on the Sixers’ initial injury report.  A long with Embiid, the Sixers will be down Cameron Payne (right hamstring strain) and Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery) in Houston.  The Rockets won’t have Fred VanVleet (right ACL repair) and Steven Adams (left ankle surgery). Tari Eason was listed as questionable because of an illness.  Embiid missed the Sixers’ win last Wednesday over the Wizards with an illness and later said he was “pissed off” that he “wasn’t allowed to play basketball.” Embiid played in two of the next three games, sitting out the second night of a back-to-back Saturday when the Sixers lost to the Pistons. He was the team’s best player Monday in a defeat to the Spurs, posting 34 points and 12 rebounds.  The 43-36 Sixers sit eighth in the Eastern Conference standings ahead of Thursday’s game against the 50-29 Rockets. Their odds of finishing in the East’s top six and avoiding the play-in tournament would take a serious hit with a loss to Houston.  ...read more read less