Embiid scratched late for Sixers-Pelicans with illness
Joel Embiid was scratched late Wednesday night in New Orleans for the opener of the Sixers’ road trip.
Embiid, who hadn’t appeared on the NBA’s official injury report until 7:30 p.m ET, was ultimately listed as out because of an illness.
As they had last Wednesday against the Timberwolves, the Sixers started small-ball center Marcus Morris Sr. in Embiid’s place.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.In addition to Embiid, the Sixers were down Jaden Springer (illness), Kelly Oubre Jr. (fractured rib) and Danuel House Jr. (left quad contusion).
The Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III, Larry Nance Jr. and Matt Ryan were sidelined. CJ McCollum returned to New Orleans’ lineup following a 12-game absence with a collapsed lung.
Embiid had appeared in 16 of the Sixers’ first 17 games and averaged a league-leading 32.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists. His passing was especially impressive Monday night in a 30-point triple-double performance vs. the Lakers.
Thanks in large part to Tyrese Maxey’s excellence, the Sixers entered Wednesday’s game with a plus-8.7 net rating in Embiid-less minutes, per Cleaning the Glass.
