Joel Embiid and Paul George are out for Wednesday’s game
The 76ers will be without their three top players.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be catching a break for Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. In addition to having a rest advantage, the Cavs will be taking on a Sixers team without their three best players according to the most recent injury report.
- Joel Embiid will be missing due to left knee injury management
- Paul George will be out with left knee injury management
- Tyrese Maxey is sidelined with a strained right hamstring
The Sixers are in a bad place. Their three best players haven’t shared the court together this season and they find themselves in an early 2-8 hole. Embiid played his first game of the season on Tuesday against the New York Knicks but looked like a guy who hadn’t played since the summer. He was held to just 13 points in his debut.
Geroge has only played in half of Philadelphia’s games so far. He’s averaging 17.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, but his shooting numbers aren’t great. He’s shooting just 30.6% from three on 7.2 attempts per game.
Maxey has missed the last three contests with a strained right hamstring. He has been the Sixers' best player this season as he’s averaged 27.6 points and 3.9 assists per game.
The Sixers were built with the idea that they would be great when all three players are sharing the floor. That could still be the case, but it’s difficult to envision that happening considering how difficult it’s been to get two of the three on the court together, let alone all three. This season has shown that they don’t have the depth to survive without multiple members of their core.
The Cavs have a good chance to extend their winning streak at the start of the season to 13. A win would move the streak into the fifth-longest undefeated streak to start a season in NBA history.