***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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

• Sixers Embarrassed in Brooklyn.
• Seth Curry Got Covid.
• Seven Players Questionable for Today’s Game vs the Nuggets.

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.

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.

Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY