Tobias Harris ruled out for Sixers’ game against Cavaliers
The team said that Harris had stiffness and pain in his left hip. Starters Nico Batum and De’Anthony Melton also remain out.
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CLEVELAND — Tobias Harris has been ruled out of the 76ers’ Monday matchup against the Cavaliers with impingement (stiffness and pain) in his left hip.
KJ Martin is projected to start in Harris’ place in Cleveland, alongside Tyrese Maxey, Buddy Hield, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Paul Reed. Reserve center Mo Bamba, who missed Saturday’s win at the Washington Wizards and was initially listed as questionable entering Monday’s game, is available to play.
“Right now, it’s crucial for us to have anybody back,” coach Nick Nurse said of Bamba’s return. “But certainly, positionally, sometimes we’re getting a little all over the place. We’ll see how Mo feels out there. [I] thought he had a really good second half the last time we saw him on the floor.”
Nurse said Harris “took a little knock on the hip” during Saturday’s win, and that he “just couldn’t get to a point where he felt good enough changing direction and things like that” during Monday’s shootaround.
Harris’ absence is another hit to a Sixers roster that has dealt with numerous injuries and illnesses in recent weeks. Starters Nico Batum (hamstring) and De’Anthony Melton (spine) remain out for Monday’s game. Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid will be sidelined for several weeks following knee surgery.
Harris is averaging 17.7 points on 50.7% shooting, along with 6 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
The Sixers (31-21) entered Monday with eight losses in their last 10 games, standing fifth in the Eastern Conference.