Denver tops short-handed Sixers hit with virus, injuries
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 09: Danny Green #14 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Wells Fargo Center on January 09, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly ackno
PHILADELPHIA - Nikola Jokic had 15 points and 12 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets past Philadelphia 115-103 on Saturday, beating a 76ers team that had only seven available players because of injuries and COVID-19 protocols.
The Sixers tipped without four regular starters -- All-Stars Ben Simmons (sore left knee) and Joel Embiid (back) due to injury, and Seth Curry and Tobias Harris over virus concerns. Coach Doc Rivers said he didn't think the game should be played.
Curry learned of his positive coronavirus test while the team played Thursday in Brooklyn, and the additional testing, contact tracing and COVID-19 health and safety protocols led to a slew of unavailable players.
MORE: Coronavirus, injuries leave 76ers to play with 7 players
The team met the minimum eight active players by including injured forward Mike Scott, who was not actually able to play.
The season-opener between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder was the only NBA game postponed this season.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 39 points in 44 minutes on 18-of-33 shooting in his first career start, and Isaiah Joe had 13 points.
Gary Harris scored 21 points for the Nuggets, who played without Michael Porter Jr. (19.5 points per game) because of health and safety protocols.
Danny Green was the only regular in Philly's starting lineup, joined by backups Dakota Mathias, Dwight Howard, Joe and Maxey. Mathias and Joe also made their first career NBA starts.
The team was forced to spend Friday in New York and underwent additional testing before arriving back in Philadelphia at 1 a.m. -- 14 hours before the afternoon tipoff.
"The last 36 hours have been nuts," Rivers said.
FULL COVERAGE: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Harris and reserves Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle and Vincent Poirier could miss at least a week because of the protocols.
"We don't know anything," Rivers said. "I don't know enough about any of this."
Sparked by Maxey, the undermanned, feisty Sixers stuck with Denver throughout the first half. Maxey, a 2020 first-round pick out of Kentucky, scored on a fastbreak dunk and Joe hit consecutive 3s to tie the game at 26.
A 13.5-point favorite, the Nuggets led only 28-26 at the half.
But a team with depth issues like the Sixers can't afford foul trouble and Howard was whistled for three in the first half. Mathias and Maxey had two in the first half and Green picked up his third less than a minute into the third quarter.
The Nuggets were off to a slow start at 3-5 headed into Saturday but got a chance to regroup against the Sixers and took control in the third. Harris hit two 3s, the Nuggets shot 68% (13 of 19) and outscored the Sixers 35-21.
TIP-INS
76ers: Maxey's 22 points were the most in the first half for a Sixer this season. ... Howard moved into 13th on the NBA's career rebounds list. ... Curry will miss five more games. ... Mathias, Maxey and Joe all played at least 41 minutes.
Nuggets: Jamal Murray and Will Barton each scored 14 points.
ALL-STAR ABSENCE
Rivers said Simmons and Embiid sat out with previously undisclosed injuries.
"Ben in the Brooklyn game had some knee stiffness," Rivers said. "So we almost probably knew after the game that he wouldn't play tonight. And then Joel started complaining about his back, that started yesterday. And we didn't know if he was playing or not but honestly, with the minutes we would have to ask, it would be insane to play him tonight."
UP NEXT
76ers: With seven players or more, the 76ers are set to play Monday in Atlanta.
Nuggets: Play Saturday in New York.
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