Adem Bona diagnosed with sprained foot

Walker will miss a second consecutive game after leaving Saturday’s win over the Bucks in the third quarter. While his absence may give Adem Bona a few more minutes, Joel Embiid will be available after sitting out Sunday’s loss to the Pistons.

Embiid said after Saturday’s win over the Bucks that he wouldn’t play Sunday, and the team has now made it official. LeBron James is not on the injury report after sitting out on Saturday, so he may see more playing time at center than he did in wins over the Knicks and Cavaliers.

Walker limped off the court during the third quarter of Saturday’s win over the Bucks and did not return. According to the 76ers’ injury report, he’s dealing with a sore left knee. With Joel Embiid (foot) also ruled out for Sunday, Adem Bona’s playing time is likely to increase, but he isn’t worth the streaming risk in most leagues.

Saturday went about as well as it could have for the 76ers. LeBron James (sciatica) didn’t play, which put more on Embiid’s plate. The big man did what was expected, recording his 10th career triple-double and dominating his matchup with Milwaukee’s Myles Turner. The 76ers face the Pistons on Sunday, and Embiid won’t play. That leaves it to LeBron to shoulder a heavier workload, provided he’s cleared to play.

Embiid told reporters after the win over the Cavaliers on Thursday that he will sit out one of the 76ers’ games this weekend. Given that he’s not listed on the injury report for Saturday’s game against the Bucks, it looks like he’ll play Saturday and sit out Sunday’s game against the Pistons. Adem Bona or Jabari Walker will likely start in Embiid’s absence.

The 76ers were the only team with a four-game Week 1, which will conclude with a Saturday-Sunday back-to-back. Embiid sitting out one game of a back-to-back, especially this early in the season, is not a surprise. The only issue is that he didn’t reveal which game he’ll miss, with the 76ers hosting Milwaukee on Saturday and Detroit on Sunday. Given the strength of those teams, the Bucks may be the team that misses out on having to deal with “The Process.” Adem Bona or Jabari Walker could get a spot start, and LeBron James may spend a little more time at center as a small-ball alternative.

After scoring nine points on 3-of-10 shooting in the first half, Embiid shot 5-of-6 after halftime, scoring 15 points. His increased production helped the 76ers erase a 29-point deficit, as Nick Nurse’s team ramped up defensive pressure and played with more pace on offense. Embiid’s ability to keep up with his new teammates is something to watch, especially when considering his injury history. But for the most part, he’s been good through Philadelphia’s first two games.

Neither Barlow nor Fall played in Tuesday’s win over the Knicks, and both may be looking at extended absences. Barlow’s injury is more impactful, as he will play rotation minutes once healthy. Adem Bona served as the backup center on Tuesday, but he played only 10 minutes, which isn’t enough to affect fantasy basketball.

Despite not having much success with his shot, Embiid was still able to make a monster impact in this game. He recorded a double-double, was effective as a playmaker, and still contribute some defensive stats. There are plenty of questions about how Embiid will hold up this season, but when he’s on the floor, he’s still one of the most dynamic players in the league. He should be much better as a scorer moving forward as well.

Bona was initially listed as questionable for this game, but he has been cleared to suit up for the season opener. He will fill out the backup center minutes behind Joel Embiid, which may end up being a significant reserve role.