Game On: Nuggets vs Sixers Preview

Drew Smith
January 9, 2021
Sixers
1 Comment

***UPDATED: 1:21 PM***

This is incredibly irresponsible by the NBA to try to force this game or make the Sixers forfeit if they cannot field enough players to play today. Per Doc Rivers, he is unlikely to play Mike Scott today leaving the Sixers with seven total players available for today’s game.

Mike Scott will go through warmups, but is unlikely to play today, sources tells ESPN. Essentially, he's needed to wear a uniform on bench to avoid a forfeit. The Sixers are preparing to play with seven players vs. Denver today.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2021

***UPDATED: 1:21 PM***

Mike Scott has been elevated to be ACTIVE for today’s game.

Sixers are planning to list Embiid out with back tightness and Simmons with left knee swelling, sources tell ESPN. Neither will play today. Mike Scott will be upgraded to available, source said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2021

***UPDATED: 1:13 PM***

Note: This would put the Sixers under the minimum amount of players needed to proceed with the game.

76ers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are out today vs. Denver due to injury, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 9, 2021

***UPDATED: 12:58 PM***

There are still Philadelphia players unsure about playing vs. Denver today, sources tell ESPN. The league mandates a team must play if it has eight eligible players; Philly technically has nine. Sixers are remaining in contact with league office with tip time at 3 PM.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2021

The last 72 hours for the Philadelphia 76ers have been interesting to say the least. Today’s game was at-risk of being played and would have been the second COVID-related game postponement of the NBA season due to Health and Safety Protocols surrounding close proximity to a player who has tested positive for the virus.

Lucky for the Sixers and fans alike, we have completely adapted to the madness that has become a part of daily life over the past year. We have Sixers basketball today at 3PM vs the Denver Nuggets.

The Sixers-Nuggets game will be played today, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2021

Who’s In vs Who’s Out

According to NBA rules, team’s must have eight players minimum for a game to proceed. The Sixers reached that minimum number and are expected to have nine players active after three cleared COVID protocols this morning.

IN:

Danny Green (cleared)
Paul Reed (cleared)
Dwight Howard
Tyrese Maxey
Isaiah Joe
Dakota Mathias
Tony Bradley
Mike Scott (cleared, won’t play)

OUT:

Joel Embiid (injury)
Ben Simmons (injury)
Tobias Harris (health and safety)
Shake Milton (health and safety)
Matisse Thybulle (health and safety)
Vincent Poirier (health and safety)
Seth Curry (COVID)
Terrance Ferguson (personal)
Furkan Korkmaz (injury)

Starting Lineup

It’s important to note that just because a player has been cleared, that doesn’t mean they will actually play. It looks like the Sixers were first, attempting to ensure they met the player minimum for the game to be played. Assuming that if you’re active, you’re playing here’s what the starting lineup could look like for the Sixers.

Starters

Tyrese Maxey
Isaiah Joe
Danny Green
Dakota Mathias
Dwight Howard

Bench

Tony Bradley
Paul Reed
Mike Scott

Tyrese Maxey

Tyrese Maxey is coming off his strongest performance yet with 16 points, three rebounds, and two assists. He also knocked down a pair of three pointers. Simmons on the other hand, is coming off his worst game of the season. Little to worry about with Simmons, who has been fantastic all year minus the Brooklyn loss. If the Sixers need anyone to step up and lead this team today, there’s no better player to do it than Simmons.

Nuggets Dealing with COVID Protocol

The Nuggets flew to Philadelphia on Friday without Michael Porter Jr, who has continued to be sidelined under the Health and Safety protocols for an indefinite period of time.

Prediction

It will be interesting to see how Doc Rivers and the Sixers come out today for this game with all of the chaos over the last 72 hours. After a lackluster performance against Brooklyn on Thursday night, you would have expected a healthy Sixers team to come out and secure a big win against the Nuggets this afternoon. Given the events over the past few days, I regret to inform you that I just logged on to every betting app in the state of Pennsylvania and locked in Nuggets -5 for today’s game.