The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
With Embiid out, Grizzlies turn into overpowering force
PHILADELPHIA >> The continuing endeavor to protect Joel Embiid from deeper soreness continues to give the 76ers pain.
For caution, not for necessity, Embiid was scratched from a 116-100 loss Sunday night to the visiting Memphis Grizzlies. The defeat was the Sixers’ third in their last five games and prevented them from retaking first place in the Eastern Conference.
Embiid missed 10 games with a left-knee bruise, returned Saturday to play 35 minutes in a 122-113 victory over Minnesota, then was scratched Sunday.
“That was his first game back,” Doc Rivers said. “I would say that any player, not just Joel, who has been out for three weeks and then plays in a game, you probably don’t play him on the next night.
“It’s just smart.”
Embiid has missed 18 of the Sixers’ 50 games, including 12 of the last 14. Though he tabbed 24 points and eight rebounds against the Timberwolves, afterward he did report fatigue.
“It was tough,” he said. “It was the first time I kind of went full court since I got hurt. So it will take a while to get back to being myself.
“But my body feels great. Obviously ‘game shape’ depends on how your body feels. But the main thing is my body feels great and I’ve just got to keep putting in these games and practices and I will be back to where I was before I got hurt.”
With the Sixers having had success this season with Dwight Howard at the center of the second unit, 6-8 Mike Scott again replaced Embiid in the lineup. Rookie Paul Reed filled out the center rotation.
After trailing, 52-42, at halftime, the Sixers allowed 45 third-quarter points, with the Grizzlies taking a 97-68 lead on a Tyus Jones three-pointer with 33.8 seconds left in the quarter.
Rivers tried multiple defenses and player combinations, but the Sixers were sloppy on offense and disinterested enough on defense to draw