The Philadelphia 76ers return to the hardwood Friday night after nearly a whole week off. Philly will play host to Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, and the Indiana Pacers. Having won four of their last five games, the Sixers are hoping to continue to build on their momentum, especially with the seeming return of Joel Embiid.
All signs currently point to Embiid playing yet again on Friday night, though it is effectively a game-by-game decision based on the precedent set. Still, the expectation is for the Sixers to have their Big 3, though they will not be at full strength.
A Thursday night injury report revealed that Caleb Martin and Adem Bona will not participate in the matchup against Indiana. At the team’s earlier Thursday practice session, head coach Nick Nurse mentioned that Caleb Martin and Adem Bona were the only two players who did not practice.
Martin is officially out due to a right shoulder impingement. He has been nursing a shoulder injury for most, if not all, of the season. His shot has had a noticeable hitch that looks as painful as it must feel. Below is a video that shows a side-by-side comparison of Martin’s shooting motion last season versus this season.
Martin has been rather quiet on the subject to it, acknowledging that he was working through some things, but he’s specifically avoided the word injury.
During the Sixers’ matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 24, Martin entered the game with his shoulder taped up. After Martin suffered a fall in that same game, injurying his back, he addressed the media at practice inbetween the two games he would miss.
At this practice, Martin was asked about the tape on his shoulder and any potential other lingering injury.
“I’m good. Everybody’s got something. I’m not really a guy of excuses. I mean, some things aren’t excuses. That’s just what they are. But I’ll deal with the things I got to deal with and let whoever say whatever they got to say about it. But, everybody’s going through something, so those are things I got to get taken care of. And I know, once I do, I’ll be a better version than y’all [have] seen me. So I’ll get there. I just have to get through what I gotta get through right now.”
It seems now that the team is almost entirely healthy, the Sixers—and Martin—feel they can now afford his absence while he recovers.
Adem Bona meanwhile continues to recover from left knee tendinopathy. Bona suffered the injury on Dec. 4 against the Orlando Magic and has not played since.
The Sixers are in the midst of a moderate break in the season thanks to the NBA Cup’s knockout stage. After Friday’s game Philadelphia will play just one more game, a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets until the following Friday, when they once again face the Hornets. That spacious schedule will give them plenty of time to focus on healing.
