Updated, 3:30 p.m.
CAMDEN, N.J. — The Sixers' starting lineup is up in the air for Friday’s game against the Celtics.
Joel Embiid missed practice on Thursday with gastroenteritis and is listed as questionable.
Embiid will make the trip to Boston. So will Richaun Holmes, who returned from the NBA's concussion protocol and suited up Wednesday for the 87ers.
“[If Embiid does not play] you go back with Nerlens (Noel) and Jahlil (Okafor), Richaun doesn’t go to Delaware, and you go compete,” Brett Brown said. “Look at what we did with the Celtics the last game. (Robert) Covington didn’t play and Joel didn’t play and we had Ersan (Ilyasova) at a five. ... It all plays out and we’ll figure it out.”
The Sixers also are sorting out the point guard position. Sergio Rodriguez (ankle sprain) went through practice to tolerance. He is probable against the Celtics. Even if Rodriguez is cleared to play, Brown still is evaluating whether to keep T.J. McConnell in the starting lineup.
The Sixers are 3-0 in McConnell’s starts. McConnell tallied 23 points, nine rebounds and 16 assists in the last two games filling in for Rodriguez.
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“I feel like we’re all spitballing back and forth right now trying to determine that more,” Brown said. “None of us would walk away from the last few games not really impressed with T.J. and the rhythm of how we’ve started games. We’re mindful of that.”
Gerald Henderson is probable with left hip soreness; Brown expects he will play. There are minutes available at the shooting guard position off the bench following the team's waiving Hollis Thompson on Wednesday. Rookie Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot has the opportunity to earn some of those.
“Just keep giving my best, bring the defense and try to not turn the ball over and [make] mistakes, that’s what I’m bringing,” Luwawu-Cabarrot said.
Starting small forward Robert Covington left practice early because of a lower back contusion. He is questionable.
“All this stuff gets thrown at you quick," Brown said. "You’ll sit on a plane and study stuff a little bit more, and make a determination (of the starting lineup). But right now I’m not really a hundred percent certain what we would do there.”