The Sixers listed the trio of Joel Embiid, James Harden and Jalen McDaniels as questionable for their matchup against the Warriors on Friday night.
Embiid didn’t play in the second half of the Sixers’ blowout win Wednesday over the Bulls because of right calf tightness. Sixers head coach Doc Rivers told reporters postgame in Chicago that Embiid's second-half absence was “just precaution” and he thought the All-Star big man would be ready for Friday’s game.
Embiid, who leads the NBA with 33.2 points per game, has played in 31 of the Sixers’ last 33 contests. The team has managed to go 9-4 without him this season.
Harden (left Achilles soreness) and McDaniels (right hip soreness) both were out Wednesday. If Harden does not play against Golden State, it would be the first time he’s missed consecutive games this calendar year.
De’Anthony Melton started in Chicago instead of Harden and posted a team-high 25 points. He has been valuable in many situations during his first season as a Sixer, playing in 69 of the team’s 72 games and averaging 10.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals. Melton has made 46.8 percent of his 3-point shots over his past eight games, rising to 40.3 percent from long range on the season. That’s one factor behind the Sixers sporting an NBA-best 38.9 3-point percentage. The Warriors sit third at 38.2 percent.
For Golden State, Andrew Wiggins, Andre Iguodala, Gary Payton II and Ryan Rollins have been ruled out for the game against the Sixers.
Golden State Warriors
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The Warriors are just two games over .500 overall, though they’ve gone 29-7 at Chase Center this season. The Sixers have been brilliant away from Philadelphia after the All-Star break. They’ve won seven straight road games and are the NBA’s best road team in terms of winning percentage (65.7).