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Star 76er pair questionable as Golden State Warriors seek third-straight win

By Peter O'Keefe

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 16: Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors shoots past Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center on December 16, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 16: Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors shoots past Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center on December 16, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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Star duo Joel Embiid and James Harden are both under injury clouds ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers’ visit to Chase Center to face the Golden State Warriors on Friday.

Embiid, now the MVP favourite, is listed as questionable with right calf tightness, while Harden, the 2018 NBA MVP, is questionable with left achilles soreness. The pair have been dominant in lifting the 76ers to an imposing 49-23 record and third in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Golden State Warriors will look to add to their two-game winning streak, and eight-game home winning streak, when they host the Philadelphia 76ers.

The defending champions haven’t lost at Chase Center since prior to the All-Star break, including producing five-straight wins on their last homestand. In what continues to be a wildly up-and-down season, the Warriors are feeling good again after finishing their five-game road-trip with two wins. They’re currently 38-36 on the season, holding down sixth in the West with a chasing pack breathing down their neck.

The Golden State Warriors watch on as Joel Embiid dunks during the Philadelphia 76ers’ win in December. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors watch on as Joel Embiid dunks during the Philadelphia 76ers’ win in December. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

In more positive news for the Warriors, there’s no one new on the injury report leaving Andrew Wiggins, Andre Iguodala, Ryan Rollins, and Gary Payton II as out. The latter was re-evaluated on Thursday and could make his return to the lineup on Sunday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Coming off a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double against the Dallas Mavericks, Kevon Looney isn’t on the injury report having been dealing with back soreness over recent games. Neither is Draymond Green who continues to play with strapping on his wrist. Aside from Embiid and Harden, the recently acquired Jalen McDaniels is also questionable due to right hip soreness, while Louis King and Mac McClung are on G League duties.

Philadelphia outscored Golden State by 14 in the second-half of their first and only meeting so far this season. Embiid and Harden combined for 61 points in the 118-106 win, though the Warriors were without Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green.

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Golden State are one game behind both the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers, are one game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves in seventh, and are 1.5 games ahead of four teams that hold a 36-37 record. With that sort of logjam still present, needless to say this is another vitally important game.

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