Two teams with NBA Title aspirations square off on Friday night with the Philadelphia 76ers visiting the Golden State Warriors.
Since the NBA All-Star break, the Sixers have been on a roll that has them in second place in the Eastern Conference, one game behind Boston. The Warriors, meanwhile, have a slight lead over the Mavericks heading into this game thanks to a victory in Dallas.
Updates Injury for Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors
The Sixers head out west winners of nine out of ten games. The recent streak briefly put the Sixers in a tie for the second spot in the Eastern Conference with the Boston Celtics.
Philadelphia dropped to third in the conference after a shocking home loss to the Bulls. And they got their revenge on the Bulls in Chicago on Wednesday night, crushing them 116-91 despite missing James Harden.
The Sixers also played much of the game without MVP front-runner Joel Embiid, who left the game with calf tightness in the first half.
However, 76ers’ head coach, Doc Rivers, is confident in his player’s ability to play against the Warriors despite missing the first half of the game.
Embiid is listed as questionable to play on Friday after he missed the second half of the 76ers’ lopsided win over the Bulls on Wednesday due to mild right calf tightness.
Since Friday’s game is the first in a back-to-back set, the 76ers may decide to rest Embiid. However, the 76ers are only three games back of the Eastern Conference’s top seed and have upcoming matchups against the Warriors, Suns, Nuggets, and Mavericks, so they may have reason to play the league’s current MVP runner-up.
Paul Reed would start in his place if he can’t play on Friday.
- James Harden – Questionable
Austin Krell of USA Today reports that James Harden’s status against the Warriors on Friday is in doubt due to an Achilles injury.
Harden will not play against the Bulls on Wednesday because of Achilles soreness. If the 33-year-old can’t go for the 76ers, De’Anthony Melton will start once more.
If Harden can’t play on Friday, his next opportunity to get back on the court is Saturday’s game against the Phoenix Suns.
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Wednesday night’s 127-125 win over Dallas was a big one for the Golden State Warriors. The victory, which gives the Warriors a 1.5-game lead over Dallas in the standings.
Steph Curry scored 20 points and aided on the basket that gave Golden State the lead. Reserve forward Jonathan Kuminga added 22 points. The Dubs have now won two straight road games for the first time since the NBA Finals.
Stephen Curry is averaging 29.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists for the Warriors. Meanwhile, Klay Thompson is averaging 3.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Warriors injuries:
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Andre Iguodala | Wrist |
Expected to be out until at least Apr 18
|
| Andrew Wiggins | Personal |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 28
|
| Gary Payton II | Abdomen |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 28
|
| Ty Jerome | Not Injury Related |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 31
|
| Ryan Rollins | Foot |
Out for the season
|
76ers injuries:
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| James Harden | Achilles |
Game Time Decision
|
| Jalen McDaniels | Hip |
Game Time Decision
|
| Joel Embiid | Calf |
Game Time Decision
|
