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Joel Embiid is questionable to play for the Philadelphia 76ers tonight against reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. “The Process” has been dealing with right calf tightness since Mar. 20 in Philly’s 109-105 double-overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls.
The All-Star center, though, hasn’t missed any games, including back-to-back matches against Golden State on Friday and Phoenix on Saturday despite the injury.
Embiid, who passed Jokic as the favorite for this season’s NBA MVP award, will likely not pass up the opportunity to play. He dominated “The Joker” in their first meeting last Jan. 28 and will be looking to do the same tonight.
Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers, when asked by reporters about Joel Embiid’s status against the Nuggets, preached a wait-and-see approach. It’ll be a shame not to see the leading NBA MVP contenders go head-to-head in a crucial match if Embiid is unavailable.
Philly are 10-5 over their past 15 games despite having arguably the toughest schedule in the NBA since the All-Star break. Embiid has averaged 34.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 4.5 apg and 2.1 bpg.
Meanwhile, the LA Clippers caught a big break when tests on Kawhi Leonard’s face revealed no serious damage. After exiting early last Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans, the two-time NBA Finals MVP has been ruled probable.
The Clippers dodged a bullet as Leonard’s facial contusion isn’t worse than many thought. LA will already miss the services of Paul George for the rest of the regular season due to a sprained right knee. They can’t afford to lose “The Claw” to another injury.
The LA Clippers are only 8-6 since the All-Star break. Despite their so-so past few weeks, they still have a shot at grabbing at least a top-four spot in the Western Conference. LA (39-36) is just half a game behind the Phoenix Suns (39-35) for the fourth seed.
Kawhi Leonard will be crucial for them to reach where they want to be as the Clippers don’t have George and Norman Powell.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: Right knee soreness; Injured since November 10, 2022
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been dealing with right knee soreness for practically the entire season. He missed five straight games in mid-January due to the same issue. The two-time NBA MVP has also dealt with other injuries but it’s been his knee that has made him a staple in the injury report.
Antetokounmpo is expected to be available tonight against the Detroit Pistons. The probable status may likely be just precautionary for the Milwaukee Bucks after he played back-to-back games last Friday and Saturday.
The Bucks (53-21) are now just 1.5 games ahead of the Boston Celtics (52-23) for the best record in the Eastern Conference. “The Greek Freak” and his teammates will surely want to take the top seed in the East for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
He is likely to be in uniform tonight against the Pistons.
James Harden: Left Achilles soreness; Injured since: March 20, 2023
James Harden has missed the Philadelphia 76ers’ past three games due to a sore left Achilles. He will be questionable yet again tonight when the 76ers take on the best team in the Western Conference record-wise.
The former NBA MVP was limited in his last practice with Philly, which left his availability in doubt. De’Anthony Melton could get another start if Harden is unavailable.
