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The game after scoring a career-high 42 points against the Jazz, Ben Simmons is sidelined.
Simmons appeared on the NBA injury report at 5:30 p.m. as questionable with illness, and Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said in his pre-game media availability that the 24-year-old would not be playing. in Wednesday night’s team game at Wells Fargo Center against the Rockets.
The illness is unrelated to COVID-19, according to Rivers, who believed Simmons had stomach flu.
Joel Embiid will play against the Rockets after being listed as likely throughout the day with back strain, by Rivers. He missed the Sixers’ loss to the Jazz with the injury, the sixth game he missed this season. The team are 1-5 without him this season and have a net score of 20.7 points better when he’s on the ground than when he’s off, according to Cleaning the Glass.
Shake Milton remains absent with a sprained left ankle. He suffered an injury in the fourth quarter of the Sixers’ win over the Kings, and the team’s bench was dominated by 87 points in the next three games.
“I think he’s getting closer,” Rivers said. “He was on the floor today, he turned. So I’m just going to assume he’s getting close, but I can’t tell you when.
With Simmons out, the Sixers plan to use Dwight Howard as Embiid’s conventional backup center and further develop the little ball look with Simmons at five once he’s healthy. The offensive success with Mike Scott in the starting lineup and Simmons guarded by opposing crosses was one of the main takeaways for the Sixers in Monday’s game.
Houston big man Christian Wood is out for a seventh straight game with a sprained right ankle, with DeMarcus Cousins expected to start in his place. Victor Oladipo (right foot sprain) and PJ Tucker (left quadriceps contusion) came out for the Rockets, Houston head coach Stephen Silas told reporters, while Eric Gordon (right groin pain) will be a game time decision.
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