3-13! Not the start the Sixers expected. Their Big Three has played only one game together, which ended in disaster with Paul George reinjuring his knee after spending just seventeen minutes on the court. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid’s injury continues to be one of league’s biggest mysteries. Well, the Sixers are hoping to turn their luck and their season around as they prepare to face the Rockets tomorrow. Unfortunately, things do not look in their favor because their two superstars are on the injury report once again.
Yes, PG will miss his third straight with a bone bruise in his left knee after hyperextending it twice in one month. And he revealed that it has been a difficult situation to deal with, “I mean it’s super frustrating, especially of course how the season’s going. And then to have a reoccurring injury you know it’s super frustrating.” Although he will not play tomorrow, he is targeting a return soon, “Feeling better… Hopefully, within a week, I’ll be ready to go.”
Meanwhile, Embiid will also remain sidelined for his third straight due to left knee injury management. After a delayed season debut, he has played only four games so far. Moreover, there is no timeline on his return yet. Another player out for the game is veteran guard Kyle Lowry, who has been dealing with a right hip strain. He has not suited up since November 18. Meanwhile, Caleb Martin is questionable with lower back soreness. And he was even held out of today’s practice because of the injury.
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While the Sixers have multiple stars out for tonight, the Rockets only have one IR entry. Big man Steven Adams. Yes, he has been out for two straight games with a knee issue and might remain unavailable tonight. However, that should not have much impact on the team’s performance because Adams has not been a major part of their rotation.
Sixers and Rockets’ Depth Chart
With PG and Embiid out, this is what the Sixers’ depth chart looks like:
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Position Starters 2nd 3rd PG Tyrese Maxey Reggie Jackson Jeff Dowtin Jr. SG Jared McCain Ricky Council IV Lester Quinones SF Kelly Oubre Jr. Eric Gordon Justin Edwards PF Caleb Martin (Q) Kenyon Martin Jr. Adem Bona C Guerschon Yabusele Andre Drummond
Obviously, their absence will lead to a lack of depth, which has been haunting the Sixers so far. They have only won three games and are among the bottom two teams in the East. Moreover, if Caleb also misses the game, Nick Nurse will be forced to make another adjustment in his starting lineup. Kenyon Martin Jr. and Eric Gordon could see a bump in minutes.
Meanwhile, the Rockets will likely be coming into the game at full capacity and this is what their depth chart looks like:
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Position Starters 2nd 3rd PG Fred VanVleet Aaron Holiday Cam Whitmore SG Jalen Green Reed Sheppard Jae’Sean Tate SF Dillon Brooks Amen Thompson Jeff Green PF Jabari Smith Jr. Tari Eason Jack McVeigh C Alperen Sengun Jock Landale N’Faly Dante
Well, they have been on fire this year and defeated the Wolves in overtime tonight to reassert their dominance. Therefore, Ime Udoka is unlikely to change the winning formula for the back-to-back encounter unless there is a last-minute entry to the injury report. Sure enough, they will pose a massive challenge for the Sixers to overcome. Whose side are you on?
76ers vs Rockets: Injury Report, Depth Chart, and More as Philly Awaits Paul George & Embiid’s Return
