Sixers news: Joel Embiid out vs. Thunder due to calf tightness

The Sixers will be without Joel Embiid for Sunday’s game.

The Sixers cruised to a 90-83 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. Joel Embiid scored 10 points in 12 minutes, showcasing an efficient mix of jumpers from the elbow and behind the 3-point line. His limited minutes, however, were not purely a result of load management.

According to PhillyVoice’s Kyle Neubeck, Embiid experienced calf tightness in Friday’s win. That would explain Al Horford’s second-half start at center. Embiid was the only starter not to play in the second half against Memphis.

Calf tightness is a minor injury, so this seems more like an abundance of caution from Philadelphia than a serious cause for concern. If this were the postseason, and not meaningless scrimmages, odds are Embiid would play his regular minutes.

The Sixers need to build up chemistry and momentum, something they can accomplish in these scrimmages. But the most important thing is delivering a healthy rotation to the postseason. If Embiid is banged up, any improved chemistry is for naught.  The Sixers have no incentive to overextend players in these scrimmages, or even the regular season.

Al Horford will presumably start at center in Sunday’s noon matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Norvel Pelle is the presumed backup center, while Kyle O’Quinn may also see a spike in minutes. Horford dropped five points and five assists against Memphis in a mostly uninspiring performance. He will look to bounce back in this one.

The absence of Embiid should only increase touches for Ben Simmons, who spent much of Friday’s win operating from the elbow and attacking the interior of Memphis’ defense. As the so-called power forward, his participation as a screener, cutter, and corner spacer (!) should continue to improve the halfcourt offense.

As for the rotation at large, it will be interesting to see how Brett Brown adjusts. In the first scrimmage, Shake Milton’s minutes were tethered to Embiid’s early. Horford is a very different player, but we could see Milton and Horford run some two-man actions in the first half.

There’s no indication of this being a long-term concern, but considering that Embiid purportedly arrived in Orlando in great shape, it’s a bit disconcerting for him to get hurt so early. Hopefully this doesn’t linger into the regular season, or even worse, the playoffs.