Updated, 6:35 p.m.
The Philadelphia 76ers will be without two of their starting five for Monday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers.
Tucker and Harris are expected to return Tuesday night at Minnesota, baring any setbacks. https://t.co/2Zb2BRdpyt
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) March 6, 2023
De’Anthony Melton and Jalen McDaniels will start.
Tobias Harris and P.J. Tucker were listed as questionable on Monday morning after both exited early from the Sixers’ win over Milwaukee on Saturday night. Harris left with a left calf injury in the second period and Tucker exited with back spasms in the third.
Both attended the team’s shootaround Monday morning, but neither participated, per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer:
#Sixers forwards Tobias Harris and P.J. Tucker didn’t participate in this morning’s shootaround and remain questionable for tonight’s game against the Pacers. They both attended the shootaround, though.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) March 6, 2023
After that victory over the Bucks, Sixers head coach Doc Rivers didn’t seem optimistic about either player being available for Monday’s contest, per Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire:
Doc Rivers says Tobias Harris and PJ Tucker don’t look good in the locker room. He guesses they won’t be ready for Monday against the Pacers, but he just doesn’t know yet. #Sixers
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) March 5, 2023
Harris originally tweaked the calf late in last Monday’s loss to the Miami Heat. He would finish that game and played in the back-to-back in Miami and Dallas before aggravating the injury Saturday and being forced to exit.
Harris’ performance has been up and down in recent weeks, but he is still averaging 15 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Tucker is currently averaging 3.6 points and 4.0 rebounds.
With tonight’s game being the first of a back-to-back, the Sixers will be conservative with both Harris and Tucker, allowing them to rest and recover until tomorrow night’s game at the Minnesota Timberwolves. It may be an opportunity for more minutes for McDaniels and even Danuel House, Jr.
The Sixers are set to tip off with the Pacers in Indiana at 7 p.m. EST for the fourth game of a five-game road trip.