76ers vs. Bulls NBA injury report, odds, spread, pick: Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons out Thursday; Lauri Markkanen, Otto Porter return for favored Chicago
Philadelphia's two All-Stars, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, will miss Thursday's game in Chicago.
The Chicago Bulls have lost five straight games to the Philadelphia 76ers but are in excellent shape to snap that skid Thursday at home because the Sixers will be without All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons in the COVID-19 protocols. In addition, the Bulls are expecting two forwards back from injury in former lottery pick Lauri Markkanen and Otto Porter. Chicago is a 3.5-point favorite (was -2) on the William Hill Sportsbook NBA odds as opposed to likely being around a 6-point underdog if Embiid and Simmons were playing.
Embiid and Simmons both got haircuts from the same barber ahead of Sunday's All-Star Game and that barber ended up testing positive for COVID, so neither played in the game or even attended it. Both players have tested negative since but protocols won't allow them back Thursday. In fact, the team already is ruling out Simmons on Friday, too, although Embiid would be good to go in Washington.
We touched Wednesday on the fact Embiid has supplanted LeBron James as the betting favorite for NBA MVP as Embiid is averaging 30.2 points and 11.6 rebounds. In the six games he has missed, the Sixers are 1-5. Simmons is averaging 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.6 assists and has missed five games this season – Philly is 2-3 in those.
Just once this season did both miss the same game: Philadelphia lost 115-103 at home to Denver on Jan. 9 when the Sixers were also down starters Tobias Harris and Seth Curry in COVID protocols and only had eight players.
The Bulls haven't had Markkanen (19.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg) since Feb. 5 due to a shoulder injury or Porter (11.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg) since Feb. 1 due to back spasms, but Coach Billy Donovan said on Wednesday that there's a "very good possibility" both will play. There are rumors the Bulls would like to trade Porter by the March 25 deadline as he's a free agent after the season and not a part of the club's future. Chicago may just have to buy him out.
In the first meeting of the teams this season, the Sixers were 112-105 home winners on Feb. 19 as Embiid was unstoppable with a career-high 50 points along with 17 rebounds, five assists and four blocks. He was 17-for-26 from the field and 15-for-17 from the free-throw line. Simmons missed that game. All-Star Zach Lavine led the Bulls with 30 points but was just 9-for-28 from the field. No other Bulls player had more than 15 points. Philadelphia is 4-1 against the spread in the past five meetings.
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