Bulls Might Catch a Break in Philadelphia: Joel Embiid Is Questionable for Monday Night
The official NBA injury report lists Philadelphia's Joel Embiid as questionable for Monday's game against the Bulls with right foot plantar fascia injury management — and Chicago's own frontcourt has a question too, with Nic Claxton doubtful.
The Chicago Bulls could catch a break on Monday night in Philadelphia. According to the official NBA injury report, 76ers center Joel Embiid is listed as questionable for the game because of right foot plantar fascia injury management, Heavy reported on Monday. It is the same designation Embiid has carried for his recent absences: he sat out Oct. 31 against Charlotte and Oct. 25 at Detroit, both on the second night of back-to-backs — and Monday's game is not part of a back-to-back, which leaves his status genuinely open until closer to tip.
Embiid has been productive when he has played, if not yet efficient: through five games he is averaging 19.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.0 blocks while shooting 40.0 percent from the field. Against Chicago specifically, he has historically been a problem — 29.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game across 20 career meetings with the Bulls. Philadelphia, 6-1 to start the season, hosts the game at Xfinity Mobile Arena; tip is 7:30 p.m. Eastern, 6:30 p.m. Chicago time.
Chicago has its own frontcourt question. Nic Claxton is doubtful with a left hamstring strain on the Bulls' side of the injury report, while Jalen Smith (left finger sprain) and Tobe Awaka (left ankle sprain) are both probable, according to the Sixers Wire preview of the matchup. If both Embiid and Claxton sit, a game that looked like a test of Chicago's interior defense becomes a very different assignment — and the final word on both men arrives with the pregame injury update.
