Joel Embiid, Robert Covington, Kevin Huerter injury updates for Kings-76ers game on ESPN
Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid will be sidelined due to injury when the Kings visit the Philadelphia 76ers in a nationally televised game Friday at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The Kings (23-14) will face the 76ers (23-12) in the third game of a five-game road trip in a marquee matchup that was recently added to ESPN’s national broadcast schedule.
Embiid will miss his third consecutive game due to left knee inflammation. Roberton Covington has also been ruled out due to left knee inflammation. Kenneth Lofton Jr. is out with a left shoulder injury.
The Kings are listing guard Kevin Huerter as questionable due to a left ankle sprain. Huerter, who recently returned to the starting lineup, sustained the injury when he stepped on teammate Keegan Murray’s foot following the opening tip in Sacramento’s 123-98 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
Huerter left the game after 41 seconds and did not return. He is averaging 9.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists this season.
Embiid, the NBA’s leading scorer, is having another MVP-caliber season for Philadelphia. An imposing presence at 7 feet tall and 280 pounds, Embiid is averaging a career-high 34.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.1 steals.
The 76ers are 2-7 without Embiid this season. The have wins over the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets with losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks.
In Wednesday’s loss to the Hawks, the 76ers started 6-9 small forward Paul Reed in the frontcourt with 6-8 power forwards Tobias Harris and Nicolas Batum. The Kings could have a matchup advantage with All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis, who is averaging 20.2 points, a league-high 12.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists.
The Kings will still have to contend with 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey, who is averaging career highs of 26.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists. Maxey is shooting 45.3% from the field and 37.4% from 3-point range.
This story was originally published January 11, 2024 at 2:02 PM.
