The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Return of fans will make Rivers cheer
PHILADELPHIA >> For as long as there have been sports, there has been one simple deal: Participants entertain and fans cheer.
Monday, Doc Rivers was willing to flip that agreement, reacting this way to the news that Pennsylvania health officials have given approval for up to 15 percent of the Wells Fargo Center to be occupied for the second half of the Sixers season: “Horary. Yay. I’m happy.”
While there typically may have been 500 people watching Sixers home games this season — including the players, officials, security staff, media and team employees scattered about the lower deck and luxury suites — the Sixers have not played before paying customers since last March amid coronavirus concerns.
Governor Tom Wolf Monday gave approval for approximately 3,000 fans to attend events in the Wells Fargo Center, which will start on Sunday with the Flyers.
“It’s been proven in Philadelphia that on our home court our fans are phenomenal here,” Rivers said before a 130-114 victory over the Indiana Pacers. “We need them here. It would be awesome in the second half of the season if we could have fans, I think it would really be a boost.” •••
Tobias Harris missed his second consecutive game with a bruised knee. The Sixers have said tests did not reveal structural damage.
The Sixers expect Harris to play Wednesday against Utah, in a match of the top teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences.
“We hope so,” Rivers said. “He really tried to play tonight. We made the call more than him tonight. But we really need him back for the next game.”
Mike Scott replaced Harris in the lineup and scored 11 points in 25 minutes. He had played in eight of the last nine games on a minutes restriction after missing 13 consecutive games with a knee injury.
“I’m feeling a lot better,” he said, after a morning shootaround.
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The Sixers recovered nicely from an unlikely overtime loss to visiting Cleveland Saturday.
“I loved that we spaced the floor,” Rivers said. “That’s what I was so upset with the other night. I thought we had no spacing. Tonight, we spaced the floor, got to the paint and made passes to each other.”
The Sixers have won three of their last four and five of their last seven.
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Before the game, Rivers sounded like he was not expecting Joel Embiid to play due to a sore left ankle. “He’s questionable,” the coach said. “And I’d say very questionable.”
Embiid, however, played 27 minutes and provided 24 points, 13 rebounds, five assists … and a message to Indiana center Myles Turner.
“He’s a good player,” Embiid said. “But that’s a matchup that I’ve dominated. He’s a great defender. He wants to be the Defensive Player of the Year. That’s also one of my goals. I have to take advantage of those matchups, especially if I have my mind set on Defensive Player of the Year.”
Turner scored 11 points in 28 minutes.
• • •
Isaiah Joe was sent to the G League, where he can receive useful playing time during the All-Star break.
“He won’t be down there long,” Rivers said. “We’re going to need him. We just felt that with the All-Star Game coming, there’s an opportunity to play a lot of games.”