Why Did Sixers Scratch Danuel House vs. Celtics on Wednesday?

Heading into their second preseason matchup of the year, the Philadelphia 76ers scratched Danuel House Jr. roughly half an hour before the game tipped off.

Inactive for the night, House’s sudden absence caused some concern. While he is dealing with a setback, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse made it known that House’s absence is nothing to be concerned about.

According to Clutch Points’ Sam DiGiovanni, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse noted that House was held out of Wednesday’s game due to knee soreness. The head coach reportedly stressed that House’s recent setback is not a series issue.

When the 76ers opened their preseason against the Boston Celtics on the road Sunday night, House was one of the first reserves to check into the game. He collected a 16-minute shift.

During that time, House attempted three shots from the field, coming up short on each try. While he went scoreless for the night, House was active in the rebounding department, coming up with five boards.

Two days later, House was an active participant in the Sixers’ Tuesday morning practice session. He was on pace to appear in Wednesday’s rematch against the Celtics but seemingly experienced knee soreness during his pregame warmups at the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday.

While House’s absence is not a huge deal, considering it’s preseason, he’s a veteran who still has something to prove to the Sixers’ new coaching staff. When House signed on with the Sixers for the 2022-2023 season, he was expected to offer the team a notable boost off the bench. However, House’s role was inconsistent throughout the regular season and the playoffs.

The preseason serves as a good opportunity for House to ensure he’ll have a role when the 2023-2024 season begins. Unfortunately, due to his setback, he’ll have to wait until next Monday to showcase his skills in a game setting for the second time this season.