Embiid’s 27 points leads 76ers to win over Cleveland
PHILADELPHIA >> Al Horford had his bruises, his muscle pulls, his injuries and his reasons for sitting out the odd game throughout his first 12 NBA seasons.
It wasn’t until his 13th season, and in particular Tuesday night, that he was told to take a night off while absent of soreness, illness or pain.
“I mean, it’s an issue we’re dealing with in today’s NBA, I guess,” Horford said, before being a healthy scratch for a 98-97 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. “I don’t think five or 10 years ago we’d be talking about these things. But it’s something that is being done, and they’re looking out for our health throughout the season.”
The load-management initiative has become both an NBA policy and a firehose of criticism. The Sixers long have been among its most dedicated believers. For that, it was less than surprising that when they faced a back-to-back situation Tuesday, they ordered the 33-year-old Horford to rest up for a Wednesday night game in Orlando.
“If you look at Al historically, he’s been a stud,” coach Brett Brown said. “He’s been a just a real durable player. I think for us, he knows this is part of our responsibility for him. It’s not like he’s 24. You’d expect me to say you want to have him be good to go April the 15th. And so this is all a part of it.”
Unsaid, though possible, was that the plan would leave Horford available to start at center against the Magic while Joel Embiid took his turn in the back-toback shuffle. The Sixers said they would reveal by 1 p.m. Wednesday whether Embiid would play. After the game, Embiid said, “we will work it out.”
Horford had played in each of the Sixers’ first nine games. Furkan Korkmaz replaced him in the starting lineup Tuesday.
“Well, there was definitely some push-back,” said Horford, who had played in the first nine games. “But at the end of the day I have to trust the people and our medical staff. They’re really looking out for me, for all of us.
“I’ll be cheerleading tonight and get ready for tomorrow.”
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After missing two games and most of a third with an injured right shoulder, Ben Simmons was cleared to face the Cavaliers. That gave the Sixers a valuable piece … and peace of mind that the injury was not more serious.
“He is an elite defensive player, especially when he’s like locked in and engaged,” Brown said. “So defensively I feel like we just got a real big boost.”
Simmons shot 7-for-9 for
15 points and had six assists.
• • • Before the game, Brown said he told Tobias Harris, “You are my new J.J. Redick at 6-foot-9.”
In the game, Harris would shoot 4-for-17, 0-for11 from the arc. However, Brown revealed afterward that Harris was slowed all day with a stomach illness of some sort and was not even certain he’d play until just before game time. And though perhaps affected by the illness, Harris scored two important buckets within 35 seconds to draw the Sixers within
97-96, and then fed Embiid for the game-winning shot with 30.1 seconds left.
“It says a lot about him,” said Embiid, who finished with 27 points and 16 rebounds. “He’s going to battle through stuff. Shots are not going to fall sometimes, but you don’t worry about it. He’s a shooter.”
• • •
The Sixers won two games in the Wells Fargo Center within 72 hours. At some point in each, including Tuesday, they were roundly booed.
“If we’re not playing up to our standard, we let each other know,” Josh Richardson said. “So sometimes the fans will let us know. We don’t take that personally.”
• • •
NOTES >> Trey Burke was scratched with soreness in his left calf … Though he didn’t play, Shake Milton was available after a sixgame absence to recover from a knee injury … The
“76ers Crossover: Art Exhibition” will unfold Nov.
16-19 at the Fitler Club, 24 South 24th Street in Philadelphia. The show will celebrate basketball and art in Philadelphia. Go to sixers.com/76ersCrossover for details … Asked if the Sixers were playing with fire by playing in so many recent close games, Brown replied. “A blow torch. And a big one.”