WASHINGTON — Joel Embiid missed the Sixers’ shootaround forward of Monday night time’s street sport in opposition to the Wizards, and continues to be listed as questionable to play with a non-COVID sickness.
Embiid, who completed second in MVP voting the previous two seasons, additionally missed the Sixers’ win at Toronto on Friday for knee harm restoration. He returned for Saturday’s victory at Chicago, ending with 25 factors on 9-of-15 capturing, seven rebounds and 4 assists and hitting what turned out to be the game-winning three-pointer with 18.1 seconds remaining.
When Embiid was out Friday, coach Doc Rivers began P.J. Tucker as a small-ball heart and moved guard De’Anthony Melton into the primary group. Montrezl Harrell and Paul Reed are additionally choices to play heart.
After Monday’s sport in Washington, the Sixers host the Wizards on Wednesday after which play the Knicks Friday on the Wells Fargo Heart.
Rivers persevering with to tinker with the Sixers’ early-season rotation has just lately meant extra minutes for Matisse Thybulle and fewer for Danuel Home Jr.
After taking part in no less than 16 minutes throughout the first 4 video games — usually because the second perimeter participant off the bench after Melton — Home’s taking part in time has dwindled in every of the Sixers’ previous 4 video games. He performed a season-low 10 minutes in Saturday’s victory at Chicago, totaling three factors however no rebounds, assists, steals or blocks.
“It’s a workforce sport, so I can’t actually get too overwhelmed and too locked into myself,” Home informed The Inquirer following Monday’s shootaround. “There’s an excessive amount of happening for me to be considering of myself. You’ve simply received to sit down again and play the sport.”
Rivers initially slotted Home greater on the depth chart no less than partially due to the way in which he performed off Sixers All-Star James Harden, a former teammate with the Houston Rockets. Thybulle, although, has given a raise to what had been a leaky Sixers protection via their first 4 video games.
Home additionally initially struggled along with his shot, lacking six of his first seven three-point makes an attempt within the Sixers’ first 4 video games earlier than making two of his previous 4 makes an attempt getting into Monday. Home is a profession 36.5% shooter from lengthy vary, together with going 41.5% on 3.3 makes an attempt over 25 video games with the Utah Jazz final season.
“It feels actually good coming off my arms,” Home stated. “I can’t complain. I’m getting seems. It’s going to return.”