Skip to content
Sixers
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied to clipboard

Sixers’ Matisse Thybulle will return from COVID-19 for Saturday’s game against the Blazers

Joel Embiid (protocols), Danny Green (left hamstring tightness), and Ben Simmons (mentally not ready to play) remain sidelined.

Matisse Thybulle (22) will return tonight for the Sixers.
Matisse Thybulle (22) will return tonight for the Sixers.Read moreMatt Slocum / AP

PORTLAND, Ore. — The 76ers will get one of their better defenders back Saturday night.

Matisse Thybulle will play in the Sixers’ matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. The reserve swingman has been in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols originally for contact tracing since Nov. 5. He then tested positive for the coronavirus while in quarantine.

”He’s not going to play much,” Doc Rivers said before Saturday’s shootaround. “He’s been out, came in [Friday] night. We’ll play him, but we won’t play him much.”

Thybulle has been sidelined for the past seven games.

The third-year veteran averaged career highs of 5.1 points and 2.3 steals in nine games with two starts before being sidelined. He was named to the NBA’s second-team All-Defensive squad last season.

Meanwhile, Joel Embiid (protocols), Danny Green (left hamstring tightness), and Ben Simmons (mentally not ready to play) remain sidelined. Portland point guard Damian Lillard (abdomen tendinopathy) is listed as probable.