Hornets at 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers may be without star center Joel Embiid when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Embiid rolled his left ankle when he stepped on the foot of teammate Amir Johnson during Friday's practice and is listed as questionable to play against the Hornets.
Embiid will be re-evaluated on Saturday and the club will update his status per how long he may be sidelined. "He just came down on Amir's foot and had a slight roll of the ankle," 76ers coach Brett Brown told reporters. "We don't know much more than that." The Hornets would likely be thrilled if they don't see Embiid on the floor as they attempt to halt a six-game losing streak to Philadelphia. Charlotte warmed up for the contest by posting a season-best point total as star guard Kemba Walker scored 30 in a 135-106 home rout of the Chicago Bulls.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), NBCS Philadelphia
ABOUT THE HORNETS (3-3): Walker is off to a sensational start for Charlotte with three 30-point outings and a stellar 30.8 average and he would like to help end his club's struggles against the 76ers. "I'm just trying to do what I can to try and win games," Walker said in a postgame television interview. "We need to be ready to go into Philly and match their intensity. We need to go in there and be poised and try and get a win." Walker made five 3-pointers against the Bulls -- his fourth game of five or more already this season -- and has drained 29 on the season.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (2-3): Philadelphia has dropped back-to-back games while getting off to a bit of a shaky start and shooting guard JJ Redick is among the people who can't put a finger on the reason. "Some of it probably is us not really carrying anything over from last year, and I don't know why that is," Redick told reporters after Friday's practice. "Some of it could be Ben (Simmons) in and out of the lineup, the new starting lineup. ... We're figuring things out. That's not an excuse; it's just the nature. We're not in a flow or a rhythm." Simmons missed 1 1/2 games with a back injury before recording 14 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in Wednesday's 123-108 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The 76ers won last season's four meetings by an average of 14.5 points.
2. Charlotte PG Tony Parker had his best game of the season with 18 points and eight assists against Chicago.
3. Philadelphia SF Wilson Chandler (hamstring) participated in part of practice but will miss his sixth straight game.