Josh Richardson doubtful vs. Utah Jazz

As of Sunday night’s 8:30 pm NBA injury report, Josh Richardson is doubtful for the Sixers’ Monday evening game against the Utah Jazz due to tightness in his right hamstring. If Richardson can’t go, it will be the third consecutive game the injury has kept him out.

Utah is coming off of a loss and they are .500 in their last 10 games, but make no mistake, they are a strong squad. For the Sixers, it could be a tough challenge without all of their starters. Look no further than the November 6th bout between these two teams: the Sixers lost that game on Utah’s turf while being without Ben Simmons for the entire 2nd half, and you couldn’t help but feel that the Sixers could have stolen that game had Simmons been available.

With that said, Richardson’s health is paramount. I mentioned this before Saturday’s Knicks game: hamstring injuries can nag and linger and worsen, and there’s no sense in rushing Richardson back with the risk of tweaking the injury and making it worse.

Zhaire Smith is available tonight while Shake Milton has been assigned to the G League. With a competitive game in the forecast, maybe we don’t get to see Smith like many Sixers fans have been craving. But with one wing player out in Richardson, some minutes could be available, especially if the Sixers build a comfortable lead.