CAMDEN, N.J. -- Joel Embiid is listed as questionable while the Sixers need all hands on deck to defend Russell Westbrook.
The big man's status is uncertain because of back tightness. Embiid missed Sunday's game against the Pelicans with the issue but played a career-high 39 minutes on Tuesday in the Sixers' overtime win against the Timberwolves.
Embiid was on the court after shootaround draining threes barefoot. He commonly puts up shots without shoes.
Barefoot Joel Embiid draining threes after shootaround. He's listed as questionable for tonight. pic.twitter.com/YeXM2LfUEG— Jessica Camerato (@JCameratoNBCS) December 15, 2017
The Sixers will require a total team effort against Westbrook. They will have their top perimeter defender Robert Covington back in the lineup after missing the last two games (lower back contusion).
Brett Brown will try different looks on Westbrook, but one thing is already known: there's no clear-cut formula to contain the reigning MVP.
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"Russell Westbrook demands a team to guard him," Brett Brown said Thursday. "He comes at you with such cocky aggression. How about the athlete that we're seeing and the mentality of that athlete? It is bizarre to me. That is a fierce, competitive person that just doesn't seem to get tired ... He's amazing to me. He really is amazing to me."
Westbrook is averaging 22.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game this season. All those stats don't really project much considering he's capable of going off for 30, 40 points any given night. He scored 30-plus points in three of his last five games.
Even though the Thunder are below .500 (13-14), the Sixers are not ignoring the offseason additions of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. Veteran scorers cannot be overlooked, regardless of a team's record heading into the game.
"[Westbrook] is a special player in our league and he's going to be tough to contain one-on-one so it's going to be a group effort tonight," T.J. McConnell said. "Even with the other two, Carmelo and Paul George, it takes a team and following your principles and playing hard. That's all you can really do."
• The Sixers will wear their red Statement Edition uniforms tonight for the first time. The jerseys were designed to reflect the history of the franchise and the city of Philadelphia. "Sixers" is written in cursive for the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
• The Sixers are unveiling a sculpture of Maurice Cheeks in front of their training complex in Camden. Cheeks is now an assistant coach for the Thunder. The point guard was a member of the 1983 championship team and earned four All-Star selections with the Sixers. Cheeks' sculpture will join those of Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer and Billy Cunningham already on "76ers Legends Walk."
