Embiid, Simmons miss All-Star Game; Williamson starts instead

ATLANTA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers teammates Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were ruled out of the NBA AllStar Game on Sunday after being flagged by coronavirus contact tracing, prompting some players to question again why the exhibition was being played during a pandemic.

The 76ers and the NBA learned of the situation with Embiid and Simmons — which stemmed from getting haircuts — on Saturday night and made the decision Sunday morning that neither could play about nine hours before the scheduled tipoff.

The game in Atlanta went forward as scheduled.

"It's just an unfortunate time in the world where our health and safety should be at the front of the helm," All-Star Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers said Sunday from Atlanta, several hours before the game. "I personally didn't agree with the game but, you know, it is what it is."

A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Embiid and Simmons have both tested negative for COVID-19, and that their barber has tested positive for it. Both players saw the barber a day or two before flying to Atlanta, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Sunday because those details were not released publicly.

"It's kind of messed up," Washington All-Star Bradley Beal said. "It's unfortunate."

Embiid would have been a starter for Team Durant, which was coached by Philadelphia's Doc Rivers. Simmons would have been a reserve for Team LeBron. New Orleans' Zion Williamson started in Embiid's place, and both teams had 11 players on the active rosters instead of the usual 12.