Sixers All-NBA center Joel Embiid sat out the second half of Philadelphia’ 116-91 blowout victory over the Bulls Wednesday with mild right calf tightness, but he’s expected to suit up for the Sixers’ next game on Friday, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
While the injury is considered minor, Rich Hoffman of The Athletic suggests it could impact how Philadelphia handles its final 10 games of the 2022/23 season. The Sixers’ other top scorer, point guard James Harden, sat out the win with a sore left Achilles.
Hoffman notes that Philadelphia is prioritizing postseason health over regular season wins down the home stretch, a strategy that could cost the team’s the East’s second seed and home court advantage in the second round of the playoffs should it match up with the Celtics.
“We’ve gone into the playoffs two years in a row with injuries,” head coach Doc Rivers said in a postgame presser. “We all know that you don’t win in the playoffs when your key guys aren’t healthy, period. So, we’re going to do whatever we can to be healthy.”
Here are a few more injury-related notes from around the league:
- Wizards power forward Kyle Kuzma and shooting guard Bradley Beal will both miss Washington’s game Friday against the lowly Spurs, reports Josh Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter link). Kuzma is dealing with a sprained right ankle, while the oft-injured Beal is currently grappling with left knee soreness.
- Deep-bench Nets big man Ben Simmons is currently only engaging in individual workouts and not yet working out with the team as he continues to rehabilitate his sore left knee, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post (Twitter link). Head coach Jacque Vaughn was noncommittal when he was asked if the team would be able to ramp up Simmons before the end of the regular season.
- Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, big man Precious Achiuwa, and shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. did not practice on Thursday and are questionable Friday in a winnable game against the rebuilding Pistons, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca (via Twitter). Grange observes (Twitter link) that Barnes is exercising caution with his ailing left wrist. Achiuwa is dealing with a hamstring injury, while Trent has an elbow ailment.
- When Danilo Gallinari tore his ACL six months ago, the injury was considered very likely to end his season. Though it remains a long shot, Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston writes that the Celtics forward continues to keep the door ajar for a potential return for the postseason. “Playoffs, it’s still in my head,” Gallinari said. “A lot of steps that need to be done before you play an actual game. And even maybe after all those steps, you are not ready for a playoff game because when you don’t play the whole season and then be ready to play a playoff game is not easy for anybody, not just body-wise but mentally-wise. But like I said, it might happen. So we’ll see.”
Simmons is done
Fultz > Simmons
Not saying much…Most starting pgs>fultz
When you stop and think about it…
You just doubled down on the point being made…
Fultz is better than Simmons… That’s how far Simmons has fallen…
Simmons QUIT
“Deep-bench Nets big man Ben Simmons” looks kinda weird since this kid is 3 time All-star and 2 time all defensive but sure enough he’s after Claxton, Sharpe and Wantanabe on the Nets chart according to real GM. $113 million over 3 years for a 4th string C/PG.
I’d say it’s sad to see a good career flame out, but it’s Ben Simmons own fault. Dude never developed his game, never put in the time to become more than a one dimensional player. He’s relied upon his freakish athleticism, but now that it’s not there he’s got nothing to fall back on.
Brook Lopez learned how to shoot and become a consistent three point threat. Brandon Ingram went from a 65% free throw shooter to mid 80’s. They put in the work. Simmons doesn’t love the game, not to mention he’s clearly a head case.
Not sure I’m giving MVP votes to a guy who chooses to sit out for half a game. Real MVPs earn it.
You wouldn’t vote for a Philly guy if he played all 48 minutes of all 82 games
You’re probably right
You’re not giving votes cuz you’re a 14 year old know it all that puts Sillivan to shame.
It’s not hard to put that guy to shame lol but I guess I’ll take the compliment.
Most dominant big man in the game. Scores at all three levels, double, triple and sometime quadrupled teamed. Money at the line, top 3 defensive player in league. Game evolves every year. 7ft 280 . Aka knucklehead. Jojo mvp
Why would the Nets want to “ramp up” a loser like Simmons?
Whatever is sore today will move to another body part that will get sore. He doesn’t want to play!
They’re on the hook for $132 million. They have plenty of reason to ramp up Simmons. They got to try to build some trade value for him. I think it’s a lost cause but they have to try, that’s an awful lot of cap space.
Sorry, but that ship has sailed.
“Deep-bench Nets big man Ben Simmons”
OUCH!
Biggest thieves in pro sports:
NBA – Ben Simmons
NFL – Sam Bradford
MLB – Rusney Castillo
NHL – Ilya Bryzgalov
Looks like it’s over…
Some people predicted this years ago…
If he couldn’t develop even a mid range shot Simmons’ career would be over as soon as he lost his athleticism…