76ers face long odds against Nuggets without Joel Embiid

After scoring 29 points, drilling six three-pointers and snatching eight rebounds on Thursday in Portland, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid did not hop on a plane with his teammates to Denver. Embiid wasn’t going to play against the Nuggets on Saturday night as a precautionary measure, so why bother with the extra travel? Instead, Embiid boarded a flight to Phoenix, where he’s expected to suit up for the 76ers when they face the Suns on Sunday.

Not allowing Embiid to play two games in two days is one of the many ways Philadelphia is trying to keep its star big man healthy. Embiid, who has chronic back pain, does not practice. He does not participate in shootarounds. Most nights, 76ers coach Brett Brown finds out roughly 35 minutes before game time if Embiid can play, according to a Sports Illustrated story that ran last week.

“It’s hard for his teammates, and it’s hard for Joel,” Brown said Saturday, hours before his team’s 7 p.m. game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. “We’ve been doing this a while, so we react. I think the end game is because he doesn’t practice is evolving him to being a consistent member of the team. His fitness base, his touch, his feel with his teammates in the flow of a game only comes with that. You just can’t make that up in real time. It’s quite amazing that he’s been productive as he’s been without practicing. We see it in that spirit and in that light rather than woe-is-me stuff.”

After playing 31 games in his first three seasons, Embiid has already played in 26 games this year. He’s averaging 24.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.0 blocks — numbers that help you understand why the 76ers are being so cautious with his health.

Brown said at shootaround he hadn’t decided who to start in Embiid’s place — the springy 24-year-old, Richaun Holmes, or the solid vet, Amir Johnson.

“One’s better at defense, and one’s better at offense,” Brown said. “Amir is a better defensive player and rebounder at this stage of his career. Richaun is lightning in a bottle, can change the game, got a bounce, probably more capable in bursts offensively.”

Whoever he goes with, the 76ers are fighting an uphill battle. They’ve played eight games without Embiid this season and lost seven of them.

“I’m sure for Brett Brown that is a very tough situation because he’s your franchise player but because of his health he can’t practice,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Friday. “Just from a natural ability standpoint…last night he made six threes. He’s a tremendously talented player. Injuries have been tough for him. In light of that, he’s continued to develop.”

Nuggets Probable Starters

Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Wilson Chandler, Nikola Jokic, Mason Plumlee

76ers Probable Starters

JJ Redick, Robert Covington, Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, Amir Johnson