Report: 76ers star Embiid tests positive for COVID-19
Joel Embiid missed the Philadelphia 76ers’ 103-96 loss to the visiting New York Knicks on Monday night after entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
ESPN, citing sources, reported earlier Monday that Embiid tested positive for COVID-19. Neither the 76ers nor coach Doc Rivers would confirm a positive test for the four-time All-Star. Rivers said before Monday’s game that Embiid was “struggling.”
Embiid is the fourth member of the Eastern Conference-leading 76ers sidelined as part of the NBA’s health and safety protocols, joining Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle and Isaiah Joe. Rivers said an unnamed staff member was also out.
Embiid is averaging 21.4 points and 9.4 rebounds.
• Julius Randle had 31 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Knicks in Monday night’s victory.
Andre Drummond started in place of Embiid and had 14 points and 25 rebounds. Furkan Korkmaz added 19 points for Philadelphia, which had a six-game winning streak come to an end.
CAVS’ SEXTON OUT WITH INJURED KNEE >> Cleveland Cavaliers starting guard Collin Sexton will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a knee injury on Sunday in a win over the Knicks.
The team, which is riding a a four-game winning streak, said Sexton has a meniscus tear in his knee, which will require additional testing and evaluation. The Cavs did not say anything about surgery.
Sexton’s recovery time will be determined by the severity of the tear. However, it’s likely he’ll be out for an extended period and his absence will test Cleveland’s depth.
A first-round draft pick in 2018, Sexton is averaging 16 points and 3.3 rebounds in 28.7 minutes per game.
REPORT: CELTICS INTERESTED IN SIMMONS >> The Boston Celtics have expressed interest in trading for 76ers point guard Ben Simmons, The Athletic reported.
The report described the talks as “fluid with no traction as of yet,” and said any potential deal must include Boston forward Jaylen Brown.
Later Monday, the Boston Herald cited league sources that termed the report “untrue.”
Simmons, a three-time All-Star, has yet to play for the 76ers this season. The team reportedly began fining him his $360,000 game checks last Friday for each contest he misses.
BULLS 118, NETS 95 >> DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points, Zach LaVine added 24 and host Chicago used a 42-point fourth quarter to pull away for a victory over Brooklyn on Monday night.
Rookie Ayo Dosumnu had 15 points and played a key role in the late rally as Chicago snapped a two-game losing streak.
Kevin Durant, who entered as the NBA’s leading scorer with a 28.6 average, had 38 points but Brooklyn had its fivegame winning streak snapped. LaMarcus Aldridge added 19.
The Nets had played Sunday in Toronto and appeared to run out of gas late.
Brooklyn held a 78-76 edge entering the final quarter. Aldridge hit a pair of free throws to open the scoring in the fourth, but Chicago responded with 13 straight points to take command.
Nikola Vucevic added 11 points and 13 rebounds for Chicago, which had dropped back-to-back games to the 76ers.