Sixers not alarmed, but Embiid scratched with sore foot

Just when Doc Rivers thought he would have a full roster to mold into a collection of workable rotations, the 76ers landed again in a recurring nightmare.

Joel Embiid is hurt again and was scratched from a 129-126 overtime victory Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers.

While he was collecting 42 points and 11 rebounds Monday in a triumph over New Orleans, Embiid injured his left foot. Though the Sixers did not show alarm Wednesday, Rivers acknowledged that his center had undergone a thorough examination before being ruled out.

The Sixers having been haunted all season by injuries — Embiid had already missed eight games — so Rivers was prepared to adjust.

“It’s funny, because every time it’s been a different group that’s been out,” the coach said. “But we’ve had some work on it.”

Rivers’ immediate solution was to go small, using P.J. Tucker as his center with

Tobias Harris, James Harden and Tyrese Maxey in a three-guard lineup.

“We were able to at least do that in shootaround today,” Rivers said. “So we got a little work on it.”

Embiid’s injury caught Rivers, for one, by surprise.

“After the game the other night, he didn’t talk much about soreness,” he said. “Later that night, he said his foot was sore, then he was even more sore the next day.”

The Sixers’ starting lineup went 6-5, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-5 in height. Just the same, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle understood the challenge.

“With Embiid out, it means more Harden and Maxey and Harris,” he said.”And there are a couple guys who haven’t been playing much who I am sure are very, very anxious to get involved. So it’s still a challenge, any way you look at it.”

Rivers indicated that there were no issues after Embiid’s examination, characterizing the situation as day-to-day. He is not sure if the center will play in a 7 o’clock game Friday night against visiting Chicago.

“I just knew he was missing the game tonight,” Rivers said. “I didn’t even ask the question.”

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Maxey had not started since Nov. 18, when he broke his foot in a game against Milwaukee. On a 20-minute restriction, he had played two recent games as a reserve. Rivers was vague about whether Maxey would have started Wednesday had Embiid not been injured, or if he would have continued to supplement Harden with De’Anthony Melton in the backcourt.

“We don’t have to do the 20-minute thing, but it’s still not normal,” Rivers said. “But that’s still the plan. With Joel out, that changes. But we were going to bring him in early for sure.”

Maxey played 36:36 and provided 17 points and six assists.

“I think Tyrese is catching his rhythm,” Harden said.

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Carlisle was coaching in Dallas when Harden was dominating with rival Houston during the peak of his career.

“He won the MVP essentially putting the Houston Rockets on his back,” Carlisle said. “A lot of it was pick and roll, but a lot of it was just flat-out creating off the dribble, which is so hard to do. There’s just a few guys in the game with that capability. Luka (Doncic). LeBron (James) can still do that. I think you have to put Donovan Mitchell in there. But James has done it for multiple years. And when we were playing him then, he made it very, very difficult.”

Harden scored 26 points Wednesday.

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Without Embiid, seven Sixers scored in double figures, including backup center Montrezl Harrell with 19 points.

“Montrezl knows who he is, and he goes out there and does it every night,” said Harden. “Whether he is playing 30 minutes or 15, he is comfortable.”