Sixers-Kings Game Thread: Jahlil Okafor Starting With Joel Embiid Out

Well, this sucks. Joel Embiid won’t be playing against the Kings tonight. The rookie big man is still dealing with a left knee contusion he suffered on Friday, Jan. 20.

In more depressing news, Embiid has also been ruled doubtful for Philadelphia’s next two games: at Dallas and at San Antonio. His status beyond that is to be determined.

Nerlens Noel will NOT be starting in Embiid’s place against Sacramento. Instead, it will be Jahlil Okafor who gets the nod. Okafor hasn’t played since the Sixers lost to the Hawks on Saturday, Jan. 21.

The Sixers are 7-23 this season when Jah plays at least 15 minutes. They are 2-9 when Jah plays but Embiid doesn’t.

Feel free to commiserate together in the comments below.

Game Info:

• Preview: Click here.
• Date: January 30, 2017
• Time: 6:00 p.m. EST
• Place: The Center
• TV: Comcast Sportsnet

The bad guys: Sactown Royalty

Probable Starters:

• Sacramento: Darren Collison, Aaron Afflalo, Matt Barnes, Kosta Koufos, DeMarcus Cousins
• Philadelphia: TJ McConnell, Nik Stauskas, Robert Covington, Ersan Ilyasova, Jahlil Okafor

Notes:

• The Sixers have lost two in a row.
• The Kings are 3-1 in their last four after going 1-8 in the nine games before that.
• The Sixers signed Chasson Randle to a multi-year contract.