The Philadelphia 76ers are right back at it Tuesday night, heading into a showdown with the Golden State Warriors less than 24 hours after taking care of business against the Los Angeles Clippers. But if you were hoping to see Joel Embiid go toe-to-toe with Steph Curry under the Bay Area lights, you’re out of luck - both stars will be watching this one from the sidelines.
Let’s start with Embiid. The reigning MVP logged 32 minutes on Monday, putting up 24 points, five rebounds, and three assists in a solid all-around effort.
But given the back-to-back schedule and the team’s ongoing management of his right ankle and knee, Embiid is officially out for the second night. That’s been a consistent pattern this season as the Sixers look to keep their superstar fresh and healthy for the long haul.
Through 29 games, Embiid is averaging 26.1 points, 7.5 boards, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks - numbers that speak to his continued dominance on both ends, even while navigating injury management.
The Sixers will also be without Paul George, who remains suspended under the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. Tuesday marks the third game of his 25-game suspension.
That’s a significant absence, especially when you consider what George brings on both ends of the floor - perimeter defense, shot creation, veteran leadership. Without Embiid and George, Philly will need to lean heavily on its supporting cast.
Golden State isn’t coming in at full strength either. Steph Curry, dealing with a knee injury, has been ruled out, taking a major piece off the board for the Warriors.
And they’re already without Jimmy Butler, who’s done for the year with a torn ACL. That’s a lot of firepower missing from both sides.
So what does that mean for Tuesday’s matchup? Well, it’s shaping up to be a battle of depth.
With the stars sidelined, this one could turn into a grind - a test of which team can get more from its bench and role players. On paper, that edge might tilt toward the Sixers.
They’ve shown flashes of resilience this season when Embiid sits, and they’ve got the kind of system that can still generate offense and pressure defensively without their big man anchoring the middle.
This will be the second and final meeting between the two teams this season. The Sixers edged out a nail-biter in their first clash, 99-98, back on December 4. Tuesday night’s rematch may not have the marquee names on the court, but it still carries weight - especially for two teams looking to stay afloat in crowded conference races.
Don’t expect fireworks. This one might be more about grit than glamour. But sometimes, those are the games that tell you the most about a team’s makeup.