PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers are once again looking to rely on others to step up in place of an injured starter.
De’Anthony Melton, who missed three games with lumbar spine soreness, returned to the floor for two games before the injury acted up again. He has missed the team’s last two games and will miss Philadelphia’s upcoming road matchups with the Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets.
Coach Nick Nurse said the Sixers will rely on their depth to replace Melton just as they have all season. That means Kelly Oubre Jr. must step up and produce just as he has.
“Honestly, we just gotta continue to stay together,” Oubre said of his role without Melton. “Uplift him in his time of healing and pretty much just keep on doing what we’ve been doing. We work on every day. We all get each other better so we kinda know the tendencies of each other so just going in there and try to fill that role.”
Along with Oubre, the Sixers can turn to Patrick Beverley and Nic Batum to step in and help get the stops necessary without Melton on the floor.
“We’re deep,” Beverley added of missing Melton. “I don’t think we’re missing anything. Obviously, a guy like that you want to have. A shot maker this, his ability to block shots in transition. So obviously you miss that, but we’re a deep team and we come in waves and we’ve been doing it the last couple games.”
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