The Philadelphia 76ers return home to the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday to play host to the Houston Rockets and they will welcome the return of one-half of their star duo, but they will be missing the other half.
Joel Embiid will return on Wednesday after missing Monday’s loss to the Utah Jazz with a back issue, but Ben Simmons will miss the game with an illness.
“Joel’s good, Ben’s out,” said coach Doc Rivers. “Just a stomach flu I think it is.”
Considering the current climate the world finds itself in, one can’t help but wonder if anybody getting sick has something to do with the global COVID pandemic. Rivers quickly confirmed that it is not COVID as he and the team had to deal with that in early January.
“Yeah,” said Rivers. “Do not say that word. It’s a dirty word. It’s like concussion.”
Doc Rivers confirms that Ben Simmons does not have COVID. He’s just out with the flu. He asked me not to mention COVID anymore. He said it’s a dirty word. #Sixers
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) February 17, 2021
The Sixers will be looking to put an end to a 3-game losing skid with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. EST. Without Simmons on the defensive end, it will be tough to contain an explosive Rockets squad.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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