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A few of the NBA’s best players such as Trae Young, Ben Simmons, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid are on the injured list. Their services will be badly missed if they’re unable to take to the court for their respective teams.
NBA All-Star Trae Young has been banged up in his last couple of games. He was questionable heading into their game against the New Orleans Pelicans after his eye was poked by Julius Randle of the New York Knicks.
The diminutive point guard, however, laced them up and played a big role in the Atlanta Hawks’ big overtime win against the Pelicans. Young finished with a game-high 34 points to go with 10 assists.
He was sidelined by head coach Nate McMillan due to a calf injury. “Ice Trae,” returned, though. The Hawks have listed him again as questionable due to right shin soreness.
Young’s presence or absence will be crucial against the NBA’s only unbeaten team, the Milwaukee Bucks.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets’ former NBA All-Star Ben Simmons has been upgraded to questionable for their game against the Dallas Mavericks. Simmons has missed the Nets’ last four games with left knee swelling and soreness.
The Nets are currently on a modest two-game winning run even without the suspended Kyrie Irving and Simmons. Brooklyn will be facing a dangerous team in the Dallas Mavericks who are on a three-game winning streak of their own.
The Mavericks have NBA superstar Luka Doncic, who has had a monster season. If Simmons plays, he will be one of “Luka Magic’s” primary defenders.
Brooklyn lost to Dallas on their home floor a week ago with Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons in the lineup. Doncic torched them for 41 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists. The Nets will be hard-pressed to win against the Mavericks on the road without both players.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: Left knee soreness; Injured since November 5, 2022
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a monster game against the twin-tower combo of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. He finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. A night later, on a back-to-back, he sat out against the OKC Thunder due to left knee soreness.
The Milwaukee Bucks handily beat the Thunder without arguably the NBA’s best player. They may find it rougher against the Atlanta Hawks, who have been playing quite well this season.
The Bucks have upgraded the two-time NBA MVP to probable, but will likely play as he has had several days to rest his left knee.
For the season, “The Greek Freak” is averaging a career-high 32.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.5 blocks. He leads the unbeaten Bucks in scoring and rebounding and ranks second in assists and blocks.
Joel Embiid: Flu since October 30, 2022
Joel Embiid last played against the Chicago Bulls on October 29, 2022. The following day, he was feeling sick and had not played in the Philadelphia 76ers’ last three games. He is still listed as questionable in Philly’s injury report.
The 76ers are 1-2 since Embiid’s bout with the flu and will be in a tight spot against the Phoenix Suns if the NBA All-Star does not play. Philly will already be without the injured James Harden. They will be the clear underdogs if the team's franchise player continues to be sidelined.
Embiid is averaging 27.2 points per game on a career-high 53.2% shooting from the field for the 76ers.
