Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will return from a 15-game absence on Tuesday when the workforce hosts the Dallas Mavericks. He’s formally listed as accessible on the 5:30 p.m. ET harm report.
Embiid, who has appeared in 13 of Philadelphia’s 48 video games this season, has been sidelined since Jan. 4. Initially, he was out of the lineup as a consequence of a sprained left foot, however as he was working his method again from that harm, the workforce introduced on Jan. 17 that he had “skilled a rise in swelling in his left knee.”
The Sixers went 5-10 throughout this absence and are 19-29 on the season, however they’ve at the very least been taking part in higher currently. They’d received 4 straight video games earlier than a 137-134 loss in opposition to the Denver Nuggets final Friday and a 118-110 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
About 60% of the best way by the season, Philadelphia’s Massive Three of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George have logged solely 192 minutes collectively. The trio has appeared in 10 video games collectively, however, since George was injured within the first of them and Embiid was ejected from one and left one other with an harm, it has solely truly completed seven video games. The Sixers went 6-1 in these video games, together with a 118-114 win in opposition to the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day.
Given the workforce’s disappointing report, Embiid’s harm points and the encouraging current play of function gamers like Eric Gordon and Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia is an fascinating workforce to watch as Thursday’s commerce deadline approaches. It seems, although, that Daryl Morey’s entrance workplace nonetheless desires to salvage this season.
Ideally, Embiid is not going to have any extra prolonged absences, and the Sixers will be capable of transfer up a number of spots within the standings. In the intervening time, they’re in eleventh place within the Japanese Convention, 3.5 video games behind the eighth-place Orlando Magic and 5.5 video games behind the sixth-place Miami Warmth.
Caleb Martin commerce grades: Mavericks make first post-Luka Doncic transfer, however 76ers get barely higher marks
Sam Quinn
The commerce that Philadelphia made on Tuesday would possibly assist. The departing Caleb Martin, a strong function participant who joined the workforce on a discount of a contract final summer season however hasn’t performed since Jan. 12 as a consequence of a hip harm, doesn’t have the identical type of capturing gravity because the newly acquired Quentin Grimes, a plug-and-play wing who looks as if a really perfect match subsequent to Embiid, Maxey and George.
Grimes, who was acquired from the Mavericks, shouldn’t be anticipated to be accessible on Tuesday regardless that he’ll be within the constructing. The Sixers may even be with out George (finger), Gordon (knee), backup level guard Kyle Lowry (hip) and backup middle Andre Drummond (toe). With Embiid returning, although, it is a uncommon occasion wherein they won’t enter a sport far more shorthanded than their opponent. Along with Martin, Dallas will probably be with out new beginning energy ahead Anthony Davis (stomach), middle Dereck Vigorous II (ankle), ahead P.J. Washington (private causes) and backup middle Dwight Powell (hip). Max Christie, the wing the Mavericks acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers within the Luka Doncic commerce, is on the market to make his debut.
Embiid does not have a strict minutes restrict, however may realistically mess around half-hour on Tuesday, Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse advised reporters pregame (through ESPN’s Tim Bontemps). Guerschon Yabusele will begin subsequent to Embiid within the frontcourt, as Nurse advised reporters (through Philly Voice’s Adam Aaronson) that the Sixers must “determine methods to get our 5 finest guys on the ground, and he is actually a kind of.”
