Pacers vs. 76ers NBA injury report, odds, spread: Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Malcolm Brogdon, Jeremy Lamb all questionable Monday

Just like the Los Angeles Lakers list LeBron James on the injury report ahead of every game, we may have to start getting used to the Philadelphia 76ers doing the same thing with their superstar and NBA MVP candidate Joel Embiid. He is listed as questionable for Monday's home matchup vs. Indiana with left ankle soreness. Fellow Sixers starter Tobias Harris and the Pacers' Malcolm Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb also are questionable. The Sixers are 5-point favorites on the NBA odds at William Hill Sportsbook, but obviously the status of Embiid could swing that a handful of points. Check out the SportsLine Projection Model forecast of this game. 

Harris missed Saturday's 112-109 home OT upset loss to Cleveland with a right knee contusion and that he was ruled out so far ahead of the game probably doesn't bode well for him here. An MRI has ruled out any structural damage for Harris, but the team could play it cautious and hold him out through the All-Star break. Harris is averaging 20.2 points and 7.5 rebounds.

Embiid was a monster Saturday with 42 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. It was his fourth game this season with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds – all other NBA players have combined for four of those. If this were part of a back-to-back, there would be a greater chance that Embiid (30.0 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.4 bpg) sits but it's not. He is a +275 second favorite to LeBron (+150) to win MVP.

Indiana enters on a three-game losing streak after a 110-107 defeat at the Knicks on Saturday. Brogdon was ruled out about a half hour before tip with a sore right knee. Brogdon, who had played in every game this season, is averaging 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists. Lamb (left knee) did play Saturday but only 12 minutes and had eight points. He starts occasionally and is averaging 11.7 points and 3.8 rebounds.

At 15-17, the Pacers are below .500 at the furthest point in the season since they were 39-40 through 79 games during the 2016-17 regular season. Indiana actually has been better on the road (8-7 SU) than at home (7-10). The team has lost its past two in Philly (but 7-3 against the spread in past 10 there). however. Monday is the team's lone trip to the City of Brother Love this season. 

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks last season. The model is also up almost $8,700 on top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. Dating back to last season, it enters Week 11 of the 2020-21 NBA schedule on a stunning 85-52 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread. Anybody who has followed it has seen HUGE returns.