Eight Sixers were ruled out for the team’s game Monday against the Hawks, including Ben Simmons.
Simmons did not travel with the team to Atlanta and will receive treatment on his knee, per The Athletic se Shams Charania. He will be evaluated from day to day, reports Charania.
Joel Embiid (back density) has been upgraded to probably. Mike Scott is probably too. He was technically active on Saturday, but head coach Doc Rivers said he does not believe Scott is fit to play.
As for Simmons, Rivers indicated that his left knee injury occurred in Brooklyn on Thursday.
“It has nothing to do with it,” Rivers said. ‘Ben in the Brooklyn game had knee stiffness. So we probably knew after the game that he would not play tonight. And then Joel started complaining about his back – starting yesterday. And we did not know if he was playing or not, but honestly, with the minutes we (from him) will ask, it would be insane to play him tonight. ”
In August, Simmons underwent surgery to remove a loose body from his left knee, missing the rest of the 2019-20 season. He said during training camp that his health is ‘100 percent’ and that he feels stronger and more explosive. In the first nine games of the Sixers, he averaged 13.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks.
Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle and Vincent Poirier have left due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols. The Sixers understand Curry tested positive for COVID-19 during their game Thursday against the Nets. It is currently unclear how long the other four players will be sidelined.
“They were, I think, at a table (with Curry),” Rivers said. “It was not like close contact, so maybe it will shorten their days. I do not know; I know nothing of this.”
In addition, Furkan Korkmaz and Terrance Ferguson are still out due to respective left-wing adducts and personal reasons.
After Monday’s game in Atlanta, a mini-series at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday and Thursday against the Heat is next on the 7-3 Sixers schedule. NBA teams must have at least eight active players to play.
Notably, the Heat are one of the other teams handling the impact of COVID-19. Miami’s scheduled game Sunday against Boston has been postponed because the Heat have not reached the minimum of eight players due to the ongoing contact with the team, the NBA announced. It remains to be seen how the Heat’s situation could affect the Sixers.
Embiid does not seem satisfied with how the league handles matters.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports the NBA is not planning to interrupt the season, despite the recent increase in absences associated with COVID-19.