Even though the Sixers' chances at making the playoffs have all but disappeared, Doug Collins and his squad want to finish strong in their final nine games.
Here is a look at the news around the league:
Joe Johnson nears return
Joe Johnson should make his return to the court sometime this week for the Nets.
Johnson, who has been dealing with a quadriceps contusion and a sore heel, practiced fully on Tuesday for the first time since Match 23, according to SNY.tv.
"Practice went great, it felt great to get up and down a little bit and see where I'm at," Johnson said. "I felt great, finished practice and we'll just see how it feels [Wednesday]."
Johnson should return for either Wednesday's game at the Cavaliers or Thursday's game versus the Bulls.
In his first season with the Nets, Johnson is averaging 16.4 points, 3.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Okafor to stay with Wizards
Emeka Okafor will remain with the Wizards next season after choosing to not opt out of his contract, according to CSNWashington.com (via ProBasketballTalk).
"My plan is to be here next year," Okafor told CSNWashington.com. "My mindset is to be here next year. I just think that this team has a lot of potential. If we had everybody healthy, it would be different around here. We'd be playing for (playoff) position."
Although it won't be official until signing period beginning on July 1, Okafor will make $14.48 million next season.
Okafor is averaging 9.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game this season.
44,000 tickets requested in Seattle
SEATTLE -- The man who's trying to bring the NBA's Sacramento Kings to Seattle says fans have requested 44,000 season tickets in the event the team actually relocates.
Hedge fund manager Chris Hansen had urged Seattle fans to join a "priority ticket waitlist" to show the NBA how strong support is for bringing professional men's basketball back to the city and calls the result "nothing short of stunning."
Seattle has been without an NBA franchise since the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2008.
Hansen and Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer have agreed to buy a majority stake in the Kings from the Maloof family for $341 million, but the deal needs league approval.
Owners are meeting Wednesday to discuss the sale and a counter-offer to keep the Kings in Sacramento. A decision expected this month.
--The Associated Press
Ex-Wizard indicted on murder charge
ATLANTA -- Former NBA player and Atlanta native Javaris Crittenton has been indicted on charges of murder and gang activity.
Fulton County District Attorney's spokeswoman Yvette Jones said Tuesday that 25-year-old Crittenton and his cousin, Douglas Gamble, are charged in the death of an Atlanta woman and the attempted murder of another man.
Julian Jones was shot and killed while walking with a group in August 2011. Authorities say that incident and a second shooting were gang-related, and may have been retaliation after Crittenton was the victim of a robbery.
Crittenton was drafted by the Lakers in 2007 and has also played for the Wizards and Grizzlies. He was suspended in 2010 for pulling a gun in the Wizards' locker room.
--The Associated Press