Backup Center Problem Gets Tighter Before Tip at Brooklyn

By the 76ers Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 8

Philadelphia is 1-0 in preseason and 0-0 for the regular season ahead of tonight's game in Brooklyn. Bona, Barlow and Simons are all held out of both preseason games this week, leaving Dean Wade as the only healthy traditional big beside Embiid.

76ers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Who's left to play center against Brooklyn tonight?

Ariel Hukporti is done for the year after Tuesday's Achilles surgery. Adem Bona (foot) and Tacko Fall (hip and torso) are both still working back and are not expected to play this week, per the team. That leaves Dean Wade as the only healthy traditional big, with Joel Embiid himself listed as the Sixers' top center option tonight.

Why are Bona, Barlow and Simons sitting out both preseason games this week?

The Philadelphia Inquirer's Gina Mizell reported Wednesday, Oct. 7, that none of the three is expected to play tonight at Brooklyn or Saturday at Boston. Bona is dealing with a foot issue, Barlow a back injury, and Simons a hamstring problem Mizell specified in the same report. All three carry an Oct. 16 target return.

Does tonight mark Embiid and Maxey's return?

Both are listed with a rest designation and an expected return date of today, Oct. 8, meaning Brooklyn is the game to watch for their preseason snaps. Maxey averaged 28.3 points last season, Embiid 26.9 across only 38 games — the clearest sign of why Nurse manages his center's workload so carefully.

What kind of team are the Nets right now?

Brooklyn went 20-62 last season under Jordi Fernandez, a net rating of -10.0, worst mark in tonight's matchup by a wide margin. Julius Randle (21.1 points) and Michael Porter Jr. (24.2 points) are the two returning scorers carrying what's left of that roster. The Sixers have two days' rest to Brooklyn's one.

Is the backup center job going to get decided before opening night?

Liberty Ballers' Bryan Toporek has tracked seven separate training camp battles tied to the spot, and The Sixer Sense's Justin Grasso wrote this week that it's getting forced to roll over into the season. With Hukporti gone and Bona not playing, tonight adds pressure without adding answers.

The verdictThe record is still 0-0, but the margin for error at center already looks thin twelve days before the opener. Tonight's lineup card will say more about this frontcourt than any exhibition score.

Is Ariel Hukporti out for the season?

Yes. He tore his Achilles in the preseason opener and had surgery Tuesday, Oct. 6, ending his first season with the Sixers before it started.

Will Joel Embiid play against the Nets tonight?

He was held out for rest and is projected to return tonight, Oct. 8, so he is in line to play barring a change in status.