Tue Nov 19 3:39pm ET
Field Level Media
With frustration growing after a 2-11 start to the season, the Philadelphia 76ers held a team meeting Monday night, pointing some of the blame at former league Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, ESPN reported Tuesday.
With NBA championship aspirations after spending more than $400 million to put together a "big three" of Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers have started with a thud in last place in the Eastern Conference. And Maxey, in the team meeting, called on Embiid to stop being tardy "for everything" because of the impact his lateness has on the rest of the team, per ESPN.
Because of injuries, illness and a three-game suspension to Embiid, the three have yet to play together.
"Tyrese loves Big Fella, but this is the elephant in the room," someone in the meeting told ESPN.
Veteran Kyle Lowry reportedly summoned the team and coaches to the meeting after Philadelphia's 106-89 loss to the Miami Heat.
Embiid apparently accepted the criticism from Maxey, with the pair described by ESPN as close friends. Embiid -- who was an All-NBA pick and the MVP in 2022-23 -- has played in just three games this season.
Coach Nick Nurse also heard from players that they want tougher coaching, while Nurse's staff expressed that players need to up their game in practice. Embiid, per ESPN, said he sometimes is confused by what's going on on the court.
Maxey, signed to a five-year, nearly $204 million offseason deal, strained his right hamstring on Nov. 6 and has been out since but is expected to return soon.
George, a nine-time All-Star, inked a four-year, $212 million deal as a free agent in the offseason. A bone bruise in his left knee has limited George to seven games.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James Jr. (heel) is on the injury report as doubtful ahead of Tuesday's game against Utah. James last saw NBA action on Nov. 10 versus Toronto, and it looks like he will have to sit out this one due to a bruised heel. In five NBA appearances, James has scored four total points in 16 minutes. He's logged a lot more action in the G League, averaging 28.5 minutes across two outings. Shooting woes have limited him to 5.0 points per game, while James has notched 2.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks in the G League.
Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) spent 18 minutes on the floor as he returned to action against Sacramento in Monday's 109-108 win. He made only his second appearance of the season after being sidelined for three weeks due to a hamstring injury. Bogdanovic finished the contest with six points on 2-for-7 shooting, adding three rebounds and three assists to his tally. The Serbian veteran clearly has to shake off some rust, and fantasy managers must be patient with him. Garrison Mathews' role in the rotation is under threat following Bogdanovic's return.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (ankle) is considered questionable for Tuesday's fascinating matchup against Boston. He suffered an ankle sprain against Charlotte on Sunday and might be forced to miss his first game of the season. Dean Wade (ankle) is already ruled out, and question marks are hanging over Caris LeVert (knee) and Sam Merrill (ankle), meaning Cleveland's rotation could have a very different look on Tuesday. The long list of injuries might give further opportunities to Ty Jerome, who impressed on Sunday with a 24-point, eight-assist effort.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (hip) will sit out a fifth consecutive game on Tuesday versus the Lakers. He has missed a week of action with a hip problem, and it's not fully clear when Kessler will be able to make a comeback. His injury has allowed John Collins to put together a strong stretch, while Kyle Filipowski also benefits from his absence. The two are in a strong position to continue their recent success on Tuesday, as the Lakers are ranked 26th in defensive efficiency and 23rd in rebounding rate.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (ankle) will not take the floor on Tuesday versus Boston. He will miss his third game of the season after spraining his left ankle against Charlotte over the weekend. Wade's fantasy impact is minimal, with the 27-year-old averaging 5.5 points and 4.2 rebounds, but he's been a valuable member of the rotation and certainly will be missed as Cleveland tries to defend its unbeaten record against the defending champs. Wade's absence opens up around 20 minutes of action. Georges Niang, Caris LeVert (knee), Isaac Okoro (ankle), and Sam Merrill (ankle) can all potentially benefit from his absence, but the latter three are battling injuries themselves and might join Wade on the sidelines Tuesday.
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Cam Reddish (leg) is not on the injury report ahead of Tuesday's clash with Utah. Reddish sat out Saturday's 104-99 win over New Orleans due to a strained tendon in his lower right leg. However, he returned to practice on Monday and appears ready to jump back into action. Reddish has averaged 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 21.0 minutes for the season. He hasn't been relevant in fantasy basketball, but his return will be significant, as Max Christie's minutes will take a hit, and Dalton Knecht might also lose some momentum. Reddish made four consecutive starts before injuring himself on Friday versus San Antonio.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (ankle) has been listed as questionable for Tuesday's meeting with Utah. He didn't practice on Monday, meaning it's unlikely Hachimura will be able to play, but Lakers head coach JJ Redick hasn't fully ruled him out just yet. Hachimura has been sidelined for two games already, giving Dalton Knecht and Max Christie larger roles. The two have looked good at times, but their inexperience at this level makes them fairly inconsistent performers.
Sacramento Kings' G Keon Ellis scored 33 points on 9-of-17 shooting in a 108-109 loss to the Hawks on Monday, Nov. 18. Ellis is owned in only 2.8% leagues.
Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis (foot) is listed as probable ahead of Tuesday's game against the Utah Jazz. The foot injury is nothing new, so fantasy managers should expect to see his name on the injury report moving ahead. With that in mind, Davis has missed just one game so far this season after appearing in 76 during the 2023-24 campaign. He's played well, too, averaging a career-high 31.1 points with 11.2 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 42.9% shooting from behind the arc. As always, AD is a must-start, although his ceiling could be higher against the Jazz with Walker Kessler (hip) out again.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (knee) will play on Monday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. The multi-time All-Star was questionable heading into this contest. But fantasy managers were encouraged after head coach Steve Kerr indirectly indicated he'd be good to go. Curry missed three games this season because of an ankle injury. However, he's still playing well despite being in the league for well over a decade, averaging 22.7 points and shooting 43.2% from behind the arc. With that in mind, Curry can be safely added back to fantasy lineups, although his presence will likely mean less work and scoring opportunities for Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (leg) has been ruled out of Monday's game against the Sacramento Kings. The team announced that Johnson is dealing with left lateral lower leg inflammation. The 22-year-old has been an integral part of the Hawks' lineup, averaging 19.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG and 5.4 APG. Garrison Mathews is starting in Johnson's place, though Johnson's absence should mean more expected points production from rookie Zaccarie Risacher and more rebounding production from Clint Capela. Fantasy managers and DFS managers may find more value in Risacher than Capela.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (personal) is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. If he's unable to play it will be his third straight game missed. Expect Dario Saric to be back in the lineup on Tuesday if the 29-year-old doesn't play. Saric has started both games that Jokic has missed and has provided decent fantasy value from a rebounding perspective, grabbing eight and 10 boards in his two starts. He's been much less productive scoring, notching only nine and 10 points in his two starts. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues may find more value in starting Saric but other fantasy managers and DFS players may be able to find better options.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (knee) is expected to play on Tuesday night in the Warriors' game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Head coach Steve Kerr mentioned he didn't even know Curry was on the injury list. The 36-year-old was a little banged up after last game but it'd appear he should be good to go on Monday. Curry has averaged 22.7 PPG this season and is a must start in all fantasy formats. He put up 18 points, four rebounds and six assists when Golden State met up with the Clippers earlier this season. Expect similar, if not better production out of the future hall of famer.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Tuesday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. This will be the fourth straight game that Alvarado has missed due to his hamstring strain. With the Pelicans dealing with a litany of injuries, the sooner the 26-year-old can get his high-energy style back on the court the better. Expect Brandon Boston Jr. (12.3 PPG) to continue getting additional minutes.
Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (back) has been ruled out for Monday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks. Sabonis had been listed as doubtful so him missing Monday's game is not a surprise. He also missed Saturday's game against the Utah Jazz with lower back tightness. The team announced today that the 28-year-old has made "significant improvement" on his back injury and was cleared for on-court workouts, a positive sign for the Kings. In his absence, expect Trey Lyles and Doug McDermott to get more opportunities for the injury-riddled Kings. Neither has been a viable fantasy option this season. However, DFS managers may want to consider both as longshots against the Atlanta Hawks. Both can shoot the ball well from three and Atlanta gives up the most three-point attempts per game.
Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) is probable for Tuesday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. The 31-year-old is dealing with a left ankle sprain but is expected to play through it. After missing two games, Finney-Smith returned to the starting lineup on Friday and has played well in his last two appearances, scoring at least 15 points in both games against the New York Knicks. As a key part of the Nets' rotation, he averages nearly 30 minutes per game, contributing 10.9 points and 4.8 rebounds this season.
Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (hip) is listed as probable for Tuesday's matchup against the Charlotte Hornets with right-hip tightness. The 23-year-old has yet to miss a game this season and is trending toward playing. Williams has been steadily improving, posting career-best averages of 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, along with standout performances like his 23-point effort against the Boston Celtics last week.
Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (back) is listed as questionable for Tuesday's matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. The 23-year-old missed Sunday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers as he continues to deal with a lower-back injury. On the season, Mann has been a reliable presence for the Hornets, averaging 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. If he is unable to play, Vasilije Micic and Seth Curry could see expanded opportunities to contribute off the bench for Charlotte.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (calf) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the San Antonio Spurs due to a left calf contusion. The 25-year-old will miss the first half of the Thunder's back-to-back set as he recovers from the injury. Joe, who is averaging 9.0 points per game across 14 appearances this season, is considered doubtful for Wednesday's home matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers. Aaron Wiggins may see increased playing time in his absence.
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) will remain sidelined for Monday's game against the Phoenix Suns, extending his absence to eight straight contests due to left plantar fasciitis. The 25-year-old, who has been a consistent contributor when on the floor, is averaging 8.3 points and 8.8 rebounds this season. In his stead, Moritz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, and Goga Bitadze are likely to see expanded roles in the frontcourt. Carter's next opportunity to return to action will be Wednesday when the Magic face the Los Angeles Clippers.
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