CLEVELAND -- The Sixers are traveling to Cleveland without quite a few players.
Robert Covington, Jahlil Okafor, Sergio Rodriguez and Ben Simmons are not joining the team on the two-game road trip that includes games against the Cavaliers and Raptors.
Covington underwent an MRI on his right knee on Wednesday. He experienced swelling and discomfort in his right knee, which he injured Tuesday against the Nets. The Sixers' medical staff is reviewing the results of Covington's scan and will treat him back in Philadelphia.
Okafor will miss his fifth and sixth straight games because of right knee soreness. He was with the Sixers on their recent five-game road trip but played in only one game.
"I wouldn't say shut down completely. I think it's fluid," Brett Brown said Tuesday in regard to Okafor's availability for the remainder of the season. "He's been doing slight stuff and we're still paying attention to his cardio. But in general, he hasn't been doing very much."
Rodriguez suffered a left hamstring strain during Sunday's game against the Pacers. He had an MRI on Tuesday and will miss at least a week.
"I feel good," Rodriguez said. “It's a mess because there's no pain at all."
NBA
The Sixers filled Covington's starting small forward role with Justin Anderson on Wednesday against the Hawks. Nik Stauskas slid over to the backup point guard role, where he says he feels comfortable with the ball in his hands. Richaun Holmes continues to thrive as the starting center, drawing praise from Dwight Howard, while Shawn Long has emerged as the backup.
Joel Embiid also is not with the Sixers as he recovers from knee surgery.