The Philadelphia 76ers clearly are not the same team without Joel Embiid.
The Sixers fell to the Atlanta Hawks 139-132 in overtime Wednesday and dropped to 2-7 without the reigning Most Valuable Player this season. They are 21-6 with him.
As he continues to deal with left knee swelling, Embiid was ruled out for a third straight game when the Sixers host the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
Tyrese Maxey had a stellar all-around performance before fouling out with 35 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and four steals.
Tobias Harris added 32 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a third consecutive loss.
Sixers players realize there is nothing they can do about Embiid’s latest injury for now.
Following a 33-point loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Kings responded with a 21-point win over the Detroit Pistons and a 123-98 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
Keegan Murray scored 25 points and Domantas Sabonis had 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Malik Monk added 20 points and De’Aaron Fox had 19 in the balanced effort.
It was Sabonis’ league-leading 33rd double-double.
Kings coach Mike Brown said that he was particularly impressed with Monk’s performance.
The relatively easy win over Charlotte allowed Brown to rest some of the starters.
Guard Kevin Huerter left the game after only 41 seconds because of a left ankle sprain and he didn’t return. It looked as if Huerter stepped on Murray’s foot after the opening tip.
The Kings listed Huerter as questionable for the Philadelphia game.
