Sixer Sense: 76ers Ready to Give Hukporti the Break the…

By the 76ers Nightly Desk · Sunday, October 4

Sixer Sense reported this morning that Philadelphia is ready to give Ariel Hukporti meaningful center minutes, with Adem Bona still unresolved and Tacko Fall weeks from clearance. The 76ers open their preseason slate against the Knicks tomorrow, October 5, at 0-0, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope fully cleared and no replacement yet for the three guards who left in September.

76ers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Why is Hukporti suddenly getting real center minutes?

Sixer Sense's Nicolas Kyle Pring reported this morning that Philadelphia is ready to hand Ariel Hukporti a real opportunity at center. Adem Bona is still listed Day-To-Day for a foot and leg issue, and Tacko Fall isn't expected back until October 16, which makes the 24-year-old Hukporti the healthiest big behind Joel Embiid right now.

Does Bona play in tomorrow's preseason opener?

Unclear. Bona's estimated return date is October 5, the same night Philadelphia opens its preseason against the Knicks, but nothing confirms he's been cleared to suit up. If he sits again, the center minutes behind Embiid go to Hukporti, the player Sixer Sense flagged this morning.

What happened with Tacko Fall this week?

His hip, torso and left-side issue moved twice on October 1 alone: from unlisted to Out, then back up again the same day. His return isn't expected until October 16, Philadelphia's last preseason game, so he's out of tomorrow's opener against the Knicks too.

Is Caldwell-Pope good to go?

Yes. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was upgraded to fully cleared on October 1 and has shown no setback since. He's available for tomorrow's preseason opener against the Knicks, for the three preseason games that follow, and for the October 20 regular-season opener, which is also against New York.

Who's covering the guard minutes lost in September?

Nobody new, officially. Kyle Lowry, MarJon Beauchamp and Tyrese Martin all left the roster on September 21, and no addition has followed since. The backcourt depth behind Maxey, Brown, Simons and Edgecombe now runs through Caleb Love, Rayan Rupert, Labaron Philon and Jameer Nelson Jr., all unproven in real NBA minutes.

The verdictTomorrow's preseason opener against the Knicks won't touch the scoreboard that matters — Philadelphia stays 0-0 either way. What it will show is who's actually healthy at center, and right now that's Ariel Hukporti, not Bona or Fall.

When do the 76ers play the Knicks this preseason?

Tomorrow, October 5, 2026, on NBA TV. The two teams meet again October 20 to open the regular season.

Is Adem Bona playing in the preseason opener?

It's unclear. His estimated return date is October 5, the night of the opener, but nothing confirms he's been cleared to play.