For the first time since the Sixers’ trade for James Harden, Joel Embiid will sit.
Harden himself will, too.
On the second night of a back-to-back, Embiid will miss a home matchup Monday night against the Eastern Conference-leading Heat (7:30 p.m. ET/NBCSP) because of back soreness. He'd been listed as questionable leading into the past three games.
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At approximately 4:45 p.m. the Sixers also ruled out Harden (left hamstring injury recovery).
Embiid struggled with his jumper Sunday in a loss to the Raptors and went 6 for 20 from the floor. He still managed 21 points and 13 rebounds in 37 minutes.
After returning on Nov. 27 from a serious COVID-19 case, Embiid was active for 49 of 51 possible games. He played 33.9 minutes per contest over that span, averaging 31.4 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
Embiid was asked Friday whether he expected to play against both Toronto and Miami.
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“Yeah, but I’m going to listen to (the medical staff). I know they had options and they were going to talk to me,” he said. “Obviously I’ve been on the court. I haven’t missed really any games besides those COVID times. So I’m going to listen to what they have to say. But the goal is obviously to win a championship.
“And at some point, you’ve got to think about what’s going to take us there. I have to be extremely fresh for the playoffs. So I imagine I will sit a game or two to finish the year.”
Embiid was not available to reporters Sunday because, according to a Sixers official, he was seeing the team's dentist after being struck in the mouth during the fourth quarter.
Harden, who missed the Sixers’ previous meeting with the Heat on March 5, said Sunday he planned to play.
Harden didn’t play a game for over three weeks before his Sixers debut because of left hamstring tightness, but the team has immediately given him heavy minutes. He’s exceeded 35 in all 11 of his outings besides the Sixers' blowout loss to the Nets on March 10. On Sunday, the 32-year-old said he felt good physically.
DeAndre Jordan, Paul Millsap, Paul Reed and Charles Bassey are the Sixers’ center options behind Embiid. Rivers has thus far preferred Jordan, but it might be necessary Monday to give minutes to a young big man, play small-ball lineups with Georges Niang and Tobias Harris in the frontcourt, or some combination of the two.
Miami listed Jimmy Butler (right ankle sprain) and Caleb Martin (hyperextended left knee) as questionable. However, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters Butler is expected to play and Martin said that he’d play as well, per the South Florida Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman. Victor Oladipo (back spasms) and Gabe Vincent (right big toe contusion) were ruled out.
To ensure they don’t drop in the standings, the Sixers must beat Miami. Heading into Monday night, the third-seeded Sixers and fourth-seeded Celtics were both 3.5 games behind the Heat. Boston will play the 20-win Thunder at 8 p.m. ET.