Sixers injury update: Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid out for Bucks mini-series finale

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article_body => "The Sixers\u2019 longest losing streak this season is three games. <\/p>\r\n\r\nThey\u2019ll be seeking to avoid a first four-game skid Saturday afternoon when they conclude a two-game series in Milwaukee. <\/p>\r\n\r\nHere are the essentials: <\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>When: 3:30 p.m. ET<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Where: Fiserv Forum<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Broadcast: ESPN<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\nAnd here are three storylines to watch: <\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Simmons and Embiid out<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\nBen Simmons will miss his fourth consecutive game with a non-COVID illness. Head coach Doc Rivers on Thursday put the chances of Simmons\u2019 returning in Milwaukee at \u201c50-50 at best,\" but the Sixers ensured there wasn\u2019t any suspense by ruling the three-time All-Star out Friday night.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\u201cClearly it\u2019s more serious,\u201d Rivers said. \u201cNot serious to where he\u2019s going to miss a lot of games, but it\u2019s more serious than we hoped for because he\u2019s still missing games, and we just need him to get well.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\nJoel Embiid (right shoulder soreness) is also out. There was pregame confusion over his status as he was listed among the Sixers' starters approximately 30 minutes before tip-off, but the team scratched him late.<\/p>\r\n\r\nFurkan Korkmaz (right ankle sprain) was another scratch minutes before tip-off.<\/p>\r\n\r\nPaul Reed (health and safety protocols) is also out. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Reason to be wary of Bucks\u2019 stretch fives <\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe Bucks went 20 for 40 from three-point range in Game 1, the highest three-point percentage and second-most threes made by a Sixers opponent this season.<\/p>\r\n\r\nMilwaukee\u2019s centers did much of that damage, with Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis combining to shoot 9 for 12 from three-point range. <\/p>\r\n\r\nIt sounded Thursday night as if Rivers planned to change things up defensively, which is not a surprise after such a subpar defensive showing. Dwight Howard\u2019s strength is obviously not guarding stretch fives. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t happen a lot, that\u2019s the good news,\u201d Rivers said. \u201cHaving said that, our matchups could\u2019ve been different. We could\u2019ve had Dwight on (P.J.) Tucker. We could\u2019ve had Mike (Scott) on Portis. So, you live and you learn.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>One eye on the standings <\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\nHeading into a difficult seven-game stretch for the Sixers that concludes Saturday, the team had the same record as the Nets. If the Sixers win, that will still be the case.<\/p>\r\n\r\nBrooklyn won its 40th game and moved a half-game in front of the Sixers with a victory Friday over the Celtics. <\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Sixers are seeking to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/sixers\/sixers-schedule-doc-rivers-tobias-harris-shake-milton-bucks-nba\">balance pushing for the top seed with optimizing team health<\/a> come the postseason, although Rivers on Thursday emphasized that the players who\u2019ve missed games recently have had legitimate issues. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\u201c\u2026 These are real injuries we\u2019ve had; these are not rest things,\u201d he said. \u201cSo you\u2019ve just got to sit there and take it, but you\u2019ve still got to try to win games, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re trying to do.\u201d<\/p>\r\n"
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Sixers

/ by Noah Levick

Sixers

The Sixers’ longest losing streak this season is three games.

They’ll be seeking to avoid a first four-game skid Saturday afternoon when they conclude a two-game series in Milwaukee.

Here are the essentials:

When: 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Fiserv Forum
Broadcast: ESPN

And here are three storylines to watch:

Simmons and Embiid out

Ben Simmons will miss his fourth consecutive game with a non-COVID illness. Head coach Doc Rivers on Thursday put the chances of Simmons’ returning in Milwaukee at “50-50 at best," but the Sixers ensured there wasn’t any suspense by ruling the three-time All-Star out Friday night.

“Clearly it’s more serious,” Rivers said. “Not serious to where he’s going to miss a lot of games, but it’s more serious than we hoped for because he’s still missing games, and we just need him to get well.”

Joel Embiid (right shoulder soreness) is also out. There was pregame confusion over his status as he was listed among the Sixers' starters approximately 30 minutes before tip-off, but the team scratched him late.

Furkan Korkmaz (right ankle sprain) was another scratch minutes before tip-off.

Paul Reed (health and safety protocols) is also out.

Reason to be wary of Bucks’ stretch fives

The Bucks went 20 for 40 from three-point range in Game 1, the highest three-point percentage and second-most threes made by a Sixers opponent this season.

Milwaukee’s centers did much of that damage, with Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis combining to shoot 9 for 12 from three-point range.

It sounded Thursday night as if Rivers planned to change things up defensively, which is not a surprise after such a subpar defensive showing. Dwight Howard’s strength is obviously not guarding stretch fives.

“It doesn’t happen a lot, that’s the good news,” Rivers said. “Having said that, our matchups could’ve been different. We could’ve had Dwight on (P.J.) Tucker. We could’ve had Mike (Scott) on Portis. So, you live and you learn.”

One eye on the standings

Heading into a difficult seven-game stretch for the Sixers that concludes Saturday, the team had the same record as the Nets. If the Sixers win, that will still be the case.

Brooklyn won its 40th game and moved a half-game in front of the Sixers with a victory Friday over the Celtics.

The Sixers are seeking to balance pushing for the top seed with optimizing team health come the postseason, although Rivers on Thursday emphasized that the players who’ve missed games recently have had legitimate issues.

“… These are real injuries we’ve had; these are not rest things,” he said. “So you’ve just got to sit there and take it, but you’ve still got to try to win games, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”