The Philadelphia 76ers are back in action Thursday night, welcoming the Golden State Warriors to town for the first leg of a back-to-back. After handling business against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, the Sixers are looking to keep that momentum rolling as they continue to jockey for position in the Eastern Conference.
But once again, they’ll be navigating some key absences.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) remain sidelined as they rehab their respective injuries. Both players bring valuable versatility to the rotation, and while the Sixers have found ways to fill the gaps in the short term, their returns would add much-needed depth-especially with the schedule tightening up.
The bigger question, as always, revolves around Joel Embiid. The reigning MVP is listed as doubtful, dealing with recovery from both right and left knee issues.
He logged 30 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Hawks but then sat out Tuesday’s win over Washington. Given that this is the front end of a back-to-back, it’s no surprise the Sixers are being cautious.
Managing Embiid’s workload has been a season-long balancing act, and with long-term goals in mind, don’t expect the team to take any unnecessary risks.
Also on the injury report: Paul George (left knee recovery) and Quentin Grimes (right calf tightness) are both listed as questionable. Their statuses will be worth monitoring as tip-off approaches.
The ball goes up at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday at Wells Fargo Center. After that, the Sixers hit the road to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night-a tough back-to-back that could serve as an early test of this team’s depth and resilience.