Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid will miss at least the next two games with a foot injury. Chris Szagola/Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid has a sprained left foot and will miss at least the next two games, joining teammates James Harden and Tyrese Maxey as Philadelphia 76ers stars sidelined by injuries.
The trio will miss the expected return of former Sixers guard Ben Simmons when Brooklyn plays Tuesday night in Philadelphia. Embiid, the reigning NBA scoring champion, also will miss Wednesday’s game in Charlotte.
The Sixers said Monday that Embiid’s status beyond those absences will be evaluated “in the coming days.”
Embiid was injured late in Saturday’s loss to Minnesota when he tripped over fallen teammate Georges Niang and crumbled to the court. Embiid lay on his back as he was checked out by a trainer. He hobbled to the bench but stayed in the game.
Embiid limped through the rest of the game but had 32 points and nine rebounds and made 18 of 20 free throws.
“Hopefully, somehow it feels better, but we’ll see,” Embiid said afterward.
The Sixers have scuffled this season amid all the absences and are just 8-8. Harden hoped to return early next month and Maxey could miss at least a month with their foot injuries.
Embiid scored a career-high 59 points and added 11 rebounds, eight assists and seven blocked shots in a win last week against Utah. Embiid scored 26 of Philadelphia’s 27 points in the fourth quarter and became the first player in NBA history with 50 points, 10 boards, five rebounds, five assists and five blocks in a game since blocks became an official stat in 1973-74.
• Ben Simmons tilted his head in bemusement at the suggestion enough time had passed since his bitter split with the 76ers that his Philadelphia homecoming might be greeted with more affection than acrimony.
His look, which became an instant meme, had the appearance of a player who knew better.
The details of Simmons’ long-building split with the Sixers are too fresh for that. Like the time former coach Brett Brown asked him to shoot just one 3-pointer per game, or coach Doc Rivers simply asked Simmons to report on time and participate in practice – Simmons did neither.
Or when management and an entire fanbase that only wanted Simmons to embrace the city, play up to his contract and the talent that made him worthy of the No. 1 pick and chase championships with Joel Embiid could not get an honest answer on why he wanted out of Philadelphia.
Simmons knows that won’t all be forgotten so fast.
“You guys are going to make titles or headlines or whatever it is, but I’m excited to go play,” Simmons said.
Like it or not, Simmons is in for much worse than a scornful scowl from jilted Philly fans when he returns Tuesday night with the Brooklyn Nets to play the Sixers for the first time since a February trade.
The three-time All-Star watched from the bench as he recovered from a back injury when the Nets played in Philly in March. Simmons drew derisive cheers from the moment he stepped on the court and was heckled most of the game.
“I know what’s coming,” Simmons said to laughter following a win Sunday.
MONDAY’S GAMES
PACERS 124, MAGIC 102: Bennedict Mathurin scored 22 points as host Indiana won its fifth straight.
Tyrese Haliburton had a double-double with 18 points and 14 assists for the Pacers.
Franz Wagner led Orlando with 20 points. Gary Harris, a 2012 Indiana Mr. Basketball from Hamilton Southeastern High School in nearby Fishers, scored 18 points for the Magic.
CAVALIERS 114, HAWKS 102: Donovan Mitchell had 29 points and nine assists, and Darius Garland scored 26 points, sending Cleveland to a victory over visiting Atlanta.
Trae Young had 25 points and 10 assists, and Onyeka Okongwu had a season-high 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks. Key offseason acquisition Dejounte Murray scored 11 points on 4 of 18 shooting.
PELICANS 128, WARRIORS 83: Brandon Ingram scored a season-high 34 points in the same game that Zion Williamson returned from a three-game absence, and host New Orleans routed depleted Golden State.
Playing one night after winning on the road for the first time this season at Houston, the Warriors scratched Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins from the lineup in New Orleans.
Williamson played 23 minutes in his first game back from a bruised right foot, scoring nine points.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.