Sixers guard Seth Curry’s stats are dramatically different since he tested positive for COVID-19 | Off the Dribble

Good morning, 76ers fans. The team (and fans) want to move on after Saturday’s 112-109 overtime loss to the feisty Cleveland Cavaliers.

Yes, the Sixers were missing Tobias Harris, but Cleveland had only nine available players and the Cavs fought and scrapped like a team battling for a playoff berth instead of a 13-21 squad.

The Sixers (22-12) had the day off Sunday and will get back to action with Monday night’s home game against the Indiana Pacers.

With two games to go before the All-Star break, the Sixers are looking forward to some time off. One person who can really benefit from the rest is guard Seth Curry.

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— Marc Narducci (offthedribble@inquirer.com)

Seth Curry began the season as hot as his new team. Acquired from the Dallas Mavericks for Josh Richardson and a second-round pick, Curry made the strongest initial impression.

In his first eight games, in which the Sixers were 7-1, Curry averaged 17 points in 30.0 minutes per game. He shot 60.3% from the field, including 59.5% from three-point range, and made all 17 of his free throws. His shooting opened up spacing for the rest of his teammates.

Curry was known for his shooting. In 256 games before coming to the Sixers, he had a 44.3% three-point percentage. It’s just in those opening eight games, he was taking things to another level. With teams doubling Joel Embiid, Curry was getting open looks and drilling them.

Then he missed the ninth game with a sore left ankle Jan. 7, a 122-109 loss to the host Brooklyn Nets.

He spent the first quarter on the Sixers bench but then left after being notified that he had tested positive for COVID-19. In addition to the Nets game, Curry missed six more while recovering from COVID-19.

Since his return, Curry has had some big games and some in which he has struggled mightily, such as Saturday’s loss when he shot 1-for-13 from the field, including 1-for-7 from three-point range. In 18 games upon returning, he is averaging 29.7 minutes and 10.7 points and shooting 39.8% from the field, including 36.8% from three-point range.

He is frequently asked how he is feeling and is often hesitant to declare himself 100%. As recently as Thursday, after having a big game with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, including 3-for-3 from three, in the Sixers’ 111-97 win over Dallas, Curry said, “I feel pretty good; it is a work in progress.”

Besides attempting to get his strength fully back, Curry was also sidelined during last Tuesday’s 109-102 win over Toronto with a sore left ankle.

“I’m looking forward to these next three games and get to the All-Star break where we can really rest up,” Curry said on Thursday.

Many NBA players have the same wish in a schedule that offers few off days.

Keith Pompey outlines the benefits and risk for the Sixers in attempting to acquire Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo, a candidate to be dealt by the March 25 trade deadline.

A key for the Sixers is avoiding defeats in the second half of the season like Saturday’s loss to Cleveland.

Among the issues addressed in Pompey’s latest mailbag is the benefit of the Sixers’ trading for Kyle Lowry.

Embiid and Tobias Harris are listed as questionable for Monday’s game vs. Indiana.

Embiid on the Sixers’ transition defense: ‘We’ve been terrible all season.’

The Sixers will face one of the NBA’s emerging frontcourt players when Domantas Sabonis leads the Pacers into the Wells Fargo Center on Monday.

Sabonis, who will turn 25 in May, was named to his second straight All-Star game. This season, he is an injury replacement for Kevin Durant, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Sabonis became the sixth player in franchise history to be named to multiple NBA All-Star Games. Here is the list, courtesy of the Pacers:

Jermaine O’Neal 6

Reggie Miller 5

Paul George 4

Roy Hibbert 2

Oladipo 2

Sabonis 2

This is Sabonis’ fifth year in the NBA, and his scoring has increased each season. He averaged just 5.9 points as a rookie with the Oklahoma City Thunder and was traded to the Pacers that offseason.

This year, he is averaging 21.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in 36.5 minutes per game. The 6-foot-11 forward-center is also shooting a career-best 36.4% from three-point range.

In a 119-110 home loss to the Sixers on Jan. 31, he had 21 points and eight rebounds but also totaled six turnovers and was 0-for-5 from three-point range.

Monday: Indiana Pacers at Sixers, 7 p.m. Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Wednesday: Utah Jazz at Sixers, 7 p.m. Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia

March 7: All-Star Game, 8 p.m. State Farm Arena, Atlanta, TNT

March 11: Sixers at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m. United Center, (TV TBA)

March 12: Sixers at Washington Wizards, 8 p.m. Capital One Arena (TV TBA)

Question: Is the combination of Ben Simmons, Shake Milton, and Seth Curry in the guard positions sufficient enough to win a tough playoff contest? If Shake and Seth are able to step up, does that make Ben the perfect “Swiss Army Knife” type of winning basketball player re: Jason Kidd?? — Melvin Joyner from Facebook

Answer: Great question, Melvin. If the Shake Milton of last year, who shot 43% from three-point range, emerges instead of the Milton of this season (31.1%); if the Curry from the first eight games returns, as outlined above; and if Simmons continues to finish at the basket the way he has, it would be enough. The problem is that is a lot of ifs.

I’ve contended that the Sixers need at least another bench scorer. If they acquire a star such as Lowry, then it obviously enhances their chances.

To answer your question, I don’t think they have quite enough to win the Eastern Conference if they stand pat. They can surely contend, but I think there is at least one missing piece and I expect Daryl Morey to be very active by the March 25 trade deadline.