Isaiah Joe has entered health and safety protocols

Isaiah Joe has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, a team source confirms to Liberty Ballers. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The team will be testing all of its players ahead of Thursday night’s matchup against the Pistons.

Joe is now the second Sixer to enter the league’s healthy and safety protocols this week after Tobias Harris did so Monday night roughly 40 minutes prior to the start of a win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Harris, who is fully vaccinated, did test positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing symptoms.

“He’s doing OK but not great, honestly,” head coach Doc Rivers said of Harris on Wednesday. “It’s the most I’m going to say about it. It hit him, for sure. A lot of guys have had this and they are mad, like, ‘What the hell? I’m fine.’ Tobias is not in that category right now, I can tell you that.”

The Sixers are already woefully shorthanded with Harris, Danny Green (hamstring tightness) and Ben Simmons (personal reasons) all out. Furkan Korkmaz, who has started the last two games, is also listed as questionable with right wrist soreness. Joe played under five minutes in Wednesday night’s win over the Bulls, but was likely in line for a larger role in Detroit Thursday.

Rivers essentially cut his rotation to eight players in the second half against Chicago, with Matisse Thybulle and Tyrese Maxey both playing nearly 40 minutes. It’s likely too late for rookies Jaden Springer and Aaron Henry to be summoned from Delaware. They’d likely only play in an emergency situation, but are both listed as out on assignment with the Blue Coats.

Despite the adversity they’ve faced, the Sixers are 6-2 heading into the matchup with the Pistons.