It’s likely time for the first game driven by VJ Maxx of the season.
The Sixers released their injury report ahead of their Halloween showdown in Charlotte and have unsurprisingly ruled out Joel Embiid and LeBron James. Jaylen Brown, Jabari Walker and Tacko Fall are all listed as questionable.
Brown missed Friday’s game against the New York Knicks with patellar tendinopathy in his left knee. Nick Nurse did not have any more information other than he wasn’t available. James and Embiid will get the second
leg of the back-to-back off as expected. James is again listed with lower back/sciatica management, and Embiid again with plantar fasciitis management.
The end of the bench remains banged up as well. Walker could miss his fourth straight game, also with patellar tendinopathy or jumper’s knee, as it’s typically referred to. Dominick Barlow remains out with his spine injury, but we could get out first look at Fall who’s been nursing a quad injury.
For the Hornets, who are also playing the second half of a back-to-back, they’ve yet to see Kon Knueppel, Colby White or Grant Williams play this season thanks to preseason injuries. Knueppel appears close to a return, having been assigned to Charlotte’s G-League team to practice. The Hornets will be without them for this one, but will essentially trot out the same team that lost to the Washington Wizards Friday night in D.C.
It should an interesting game. If the trio of James, Embiid and Brown are unable to play, we should see a whole lot of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons. That trio has been excellent coming off the bench so far this season. What Nick Nurse does at center is anyone’s guess and will largely be dictated by the availability of Walker and Fall.
