76ers Starter’s Absence Extends Another Game vs. Magic

The Philadelphia 76ers will be down two starters once again on Wednesday night.

According to the team’s injury report against the Orlando Magic, the Sixers will roll without the six-time All-Star center Joel Embiid and the veteran forward Nic Batum.

Lately, Batum’s been frequently inactive. When he missed Monday night’s matchup against the Miami Heat, Batum missed his third-straight matchup. With Wednesday’s game guaranteed to be his fourth absence in a row, Batum is on pace to miss the most consecutive games on a personal note this season.

Prior to getting traded to the 76ers, Batum appeared in three games for the Los Angeles Clippers. He totaled roughly 53 minutes off the bench across three games. On Halloween, he was traded to the Sixers in the blockbuster deal that involved James Harden.

Batum’s Sixers debut was delayed a few games as he dealt with personal matters. On November 6, he checked in for 17 minutes off the bench. He remained in a reserve role for his first three games of his Sixers run, but entered the starting lineup on November 12.

In his first start with the Sixers, Batum scored nine points, seven rebounds, one steal, and three blocks in 33 minutes of action. Over the following three games, he sat out due to personal reasons. When Batum returned, he was thrown into the starting lineup and maintained that role moving forward.

Before straining his hamstring in the December 18 matchup against the Chicago Bulls, Batum appeared in 12 of 13 games — drawing starts in all of his appearances. He averaged 25 minutes, producing six points, four rebounds, and three assists per game.

Against Chicago, Batum’s night ended after 27 minutes. He missed the entire fourth quarter as the Sixers fell short by four points. He went on to miss the next three matchups, with his fourth absence taking place on Wednesday.

While Batum’s setback isn’t expected to cut deep into his 2023-2024 season, the Sixers aren’t going to rush him out on the court. Therefore, they are taking their time with Batum’s recovery, which is the right move, considering getting the veteran to the playoffs healthy is a key priority.