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Tim BontempsESPN
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will sit down Sunday afternoon against the Oklahoma City Thunder with stiff calves.
The Sixers said before the scrimmage that Embiid began to feel calf tension during Friday’s 90-83 victory over Memphis in Philadelphia’s first action in the NBA bubble at the Walt Disney World Resort. It is on the day to day list and will be reevaluated on Monday.
“Not really,” said Sixers coach Brett Brown when asked if there was any frustration at Embiid’s lost time with injury. “It is the second game.
“If this had happened three to four games in what we call the regular season, [yes]. There is always frustration, selfish frustration, and I know that frustration, sometimes, for Joel. But initially [we’re] just trying to be smart with everything and move on. “
Brown said before Friday’s scrimmage that he hoped to get Embiid 18-20 minutes, but instead finished with just under 13, scoring 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting to go with six rebounds and one assist. He was the only starter who did not play in the second half.
When asked if Embiid might miss any of the seed games, which for Philadelphia begin Saturday against the Indiana Pacers, with whom they are tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference, Brown stepped aside the question.
“I think we are just facing things and being smart about it,” he said.
Brown said Al Horford, who has been cast in favor of second-year guard Shake Milton on the restart, would replace Embiid in the starting lineup alongside Milton, Josh Richardson, Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons, and that he considers Embiid’s absence. as an opportunity to get Horford some extended minutes.
“I feel like it’s an opportunity,” said Brown. “Truly, not talking to the coach, not talking to politics, really, playing Al plus, putting him with some different groups.”
Embiid averaged 23.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 blocks per game while playing in 44 of Philadelphia’s 65 games this season before being suspended in March due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
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