Sixers-Pelicans game postponed due to Philly players in COVID-19 protocols, injuries
The 76ers' game against the Pelicans didn't happen Sunday night, after all.
Rather than wait and see if the three Sixers' players listed as questionable due to injuries – star center Joel Embiid (sore left ankle), starting guard Tyrese Maxey (left quad contusion) and wing Danny Green (sore right hip) – could play, the NBA decided to postpone it early in the afternoon Sunday. Teams are required to have a minimum of eight players available.
The league sent out a short release saying the Sixers' game, along with Sunday's Nets-Nuggets and Tuesday's Nets-Wizards contests, Sunday's Cavaliers-Hawks game, and Monday's meeting between the Magic and Raptors would be postponed "because of players and staff members entering the NBA's Health and Safety protocols."
Backup center Andre Drummond and reserve guard Shake Milton entered the COVID-19 health and safety protocols Sunday, joining Sixers' backup forward Georges Niang there.
Combined with Furkan Korkmaz (non-COVID illness), forward Paul Reed on G-League assignment with the Delaware Blue Coats in Las Vegas, rookie guard Jaden Springer in concussion protocols, Ben Simmons continuing to be out for personal reasons and two-way player Aaron Henry with the Blue Coats, the Sixers only had five confirmed players for the New Orleans contest – guards Seth Curry, Matisse Thybulle and Isaiah Joe, forward Tobias Harris and big man Charles Bassey.
Typically, players listed as questionable go through pregame warmups to see if they'll be able to play, but the NBA apparently didn't want to wait to see what would happen that close to tipoff at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Sixers, who dropped to 15-15 with Thursday's road loss to the shorthanded Nets, have 10 players available for Monday night's game against the Celtics, including Embiid, who had been questionable with left ankle soreness. Boston, which had seven players in the protocols Sunday, also has 10 players Monday, including Jayson Tatum, who had been questionable due to an ankle sprain.
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The Sixers didn't have any games postponed early last month despite having four players testing positive for COVID-19 at the same time, including Embiid and Harris.
Philadelphia only had seven healthy players for a Jan. 9 home loss to the Nuggets but the injured Mike Scott in uniform sat on the bench to make eight. The game wasn't postponed because the Sixers hadn't listed Embiid or Simmons on their official injury report, only for neither to play. As a result, the Sixers were fined $25,000 and forced to play.
Tickets for Sunday's game will be honored on the rescheduled date.
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes; @TomMoorePhilly
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Sixers-Pelicans game postponed due to Philly players in COVID protocols, injured
