The Sixers aren't the only team hit hard by the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols in their Tuesday matchup against the Heat at Wells Fargo Center.
Here are the essentials for the first game of their scheduled mini-series against Miami:
- When: 7 p.m. with Sixers Pregame Live at 6:15 p.m.
- Where: Wells Fargo Center
- Broadcast: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Live stream: NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com and the MyTeams app
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And here are three storylines to watch:
Who’s in and who’s out?
Miami has eight players available. Meyers Leonard is out with a left shoulder sprain, while the following players are sidelined due to health and safety protocols: Bam Adebayo, Avery Bradley, Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic, Maurice Harkless, Udonis Haslem, Kendrick Nunn, KZ Okpala.
The 4-4 Heat’s scheduled game Sunday night against the Celtics was postponed as Miami couldn’t field the minimum of eight players because of ongoing contact tracing.
NBA
The Sixers have 10 players available. They used nine in their loss Monday to the Hawks, and Ben Simmons will return after missing the past two games with left knee swelling. Joel Embiid and Tony Bradley also will play after being listed as probable earlier in the day with back tightness and right ankle soreness, respectively.
Though he’s not sure, Rivers thinks it’s “a possibility” that four Sixers out due to health and safety protocols, Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton, Tobias Harris and Vincent Poirier, could return after this mini-series concludes. Seth Curry is “doing great” after testing positive for COVID-19, Rivers said.
Kentucky kids
Tyrese Maxey looks likely to match up against a fellow Kentucky product for the second time in three starts in Tyler Herro. Maxey played against former Wildcat Jamal Murray on Saturday.
With Butler and Dragic out, it would make sense if Herro handled the ball more than usual. He’s coming off his highest-scoring game of the season, a 31-point effort Saturday against the Wizards.
Though Maxey has been a bright spot for the Sixers, shooting 25 for 47 (53.2 percent) from the floor in his starts, he hasn’t yet figured out how to draw fouls. He’s attempted only two free throws total, the fewest of any NBA player with at least 200 minutes this season.
Ice-cold shooters
Veterans Danny Green and Mike Scott combined to shoot 1 for 16 from the floor in the Sixers’ loss to Atlanta.
Though excellent looks might be in shorter supply given how many key players the Sixers are missing, expect that pair to do better than 0 for 12 from three-point territory against Miami.
Rivers was understandably unconcerned with Scott’s shooting, calling it “good news” that he was able to play 22 minutes after sitting out the past five games with a left knee contusion.