Forget the player participation policy, there’s an NBA Cup to respect.
The Sixers released their injury report for their first leg of their second back-to-back of the season, and the only starter listed on it is Jaylen Brown, who is questionable with left knee soreness. That’s an unwelcome surprise, but it at least means LeBron James and Joel Embiid will be available for their rematch against the New York Knicks.
There wasn’t any clear moment in the Sixers win against the Pacers where Brown appeared
to pick up a knock, but he only played 34 minutes in the game despite already being fourth in the league in minutes this season.VJ Edgecombe, who returned from an abdominal contusion in Indiana, is also not listed.
On the James and Embiid side, This is a difference from how Philadelphia handled their first set of consecutive games this season, where Embiid played the first game and LeBron played the second. The circumstances surrounding this back-to-back changes the calculus a little bit for the Sixers because that Knicks game is on Amazon Prime.
Nationally televised games are subject to the player participation policy critiquing the availability of players who have made an All-Star game and having already offended it, the Sixers aren’t trying to pick up any more infractions there. On top of the game being on Prime, it’s also the first NBA Cup night of the season. The Sixers have yet to advance out of group play in the Cup’s first three seasons of existence.
That means it’s possible both Embiid and James miss the second game of the weekend at Charlotte against the Hornets. It makes sense to load up for the harder opponent in New York. Getting some of their front court depth back would help a lot in getting through these types of games.
Dominick Barlow remains out with spine injury, he’s about a week from his reevaluation. Jabari Walker is also out with left knee soreness, he tweaked his left knee back on Oct. 24 against the Bucks. The only update that’s come on him recently is the designation on the injury report changing from left knee soreness to left patellar tendinopathy. Tacko Fall continues to get closer according to Nick Nurse, but is still listed as out with a quad injury. Hopefully Brown is able to go so the Sixers at least get their full starting five for the defending champions.
