As the playoffs get closer and the fight for positioning gets more intense, the Philadelphia 76ers are showing they are prioritizing health over everything. They are on a three-game slide, playing all of those games short-handed, and are focused on making sure their heavy lifters are ready for the postseason.
It appears that thought process could reign supreme when the Sixers play host to the Dallas Mavericks. Both Joel Embiid and James Harden are listed as questionable for the matchup.
In a game that could have kept the Sixers within striking distance of the top spot in the Eastern Conference as well as crystallize the NBA MVP conversation, the team held Embiid out of a 116-111 loss to the Denver Nuggets due to right calf tightness.
Harden is also questionable for the Mavericks game with his sore Achilles, which has kept him out of the last four games for the Sixers.
Joel Embiid (right calf tightness) and James Hardren (left Achilles soreness) are listed as questionable for tomorrow’s matchup with the Mavericks #Sixers
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) March 28, 2023
Embiid was ruled out after playing a back-to-back Friday and Saturday night against Golden State and Phoenix, where the Sixers came up short both times. The focus at this point is on the playoffs and if they are not ready to go for Wednesday’s contest, then Philadelphia will likely continue to hold them out with bigger goals in mind.
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