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Sixers star Joel Embiid shoves reporter

Sun Nov 3 2:04am ET
Field Level Media

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid got into a verbal altercation with a local reporter that turned physical after the team's 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.

The incident happened in the Sixers' locker room, where Embiid confronted Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes about an article that made reference to Embiid's son and late brother. The piece also criticized the seven-time All-Star's ability to stay healthy and act professionally.

"The next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you are going to see what I'm going to do to you and I'm going to have to ... live with the consequences," Embiid told Hayes as reporters filtered into the locker room.

Embiid continued with some profane language before rejecting an attempted apology from Hayes. After Embiid said that he didn't care what reporters had to say, Hayes said, "But you do," prompting Embiid to raise his voice and push Hayes on the shoulder.


A public relations official for the 76ers then got in between the two while another staff member tried to get reporters out of the locker room.

Team security asked reporters not to report on the altercation, at which point Embiid delivered another message.

"They can do whatever they want," he said. "I don't give a (expletive)."

The league has already said that it is conducting an investigation into the matter.

"We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation," a spokesman for the NBA said in a statement.

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told ESPN that he too is aware of the situation.

"We take the situation very seriously and are investigating, and have already spoken to the NBA," Morey said in a statement.

Embiid, 30, has yet to play in a game this season because of left knee injury management. He was limited to just 39 games (all starts) in 2023-24.

In those 39 games, Embiid averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.7 blocks.

Embiid is only two seasons removed from being named MVP, earning that title by posting averages of 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 blocks in 66 games (all starts) during the 2022-23 campaign.

Philadelphia is off to a 1-4 start this season.

Player Notes
Klay Thompson Tue Dec 3 6:20pm

Dallas Mavericks forward Klay Thompson (foot) will play on Tuesday night versus Memphis after missing the last four games because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. The former Golden State Warrior has struggled to find his footing in his first season with the Mavs, averaging 13.2 points, the second-lowest of his career. He'll likely bounce back at some point. But fantasy managers should lower their expectations for at least a game or two, especially since Thompson is coming off a four-game layoff. With Naji Marshall (illness) out, Spencer Dinwiddie, coming off a 20-point showing in Sunday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers, is still worth considering for fantasy lineups.

Caleb Martin Tue Dec 3 6:00pm

Philadelphia 76ers forward Caleb Martin (back) is available ahead of Tuesday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. Martin is back in the mix following a two-game absence due to back soreness. He'll head to the bench with Kenyon Martin Jr. getting the starting nod on Tuesday. Martin is coming off a 19-point game across 27 minutes during his last game. He figures to lose some minutes here, but could still be worth a look as a low-end streaming option.

Austin Reaves Tue Dec 3 6:00pm

Los Angeles Lakers guardAustin Reaves(pelvis) is listed as questionable and could miss his third consecutive contest on Tuesday due to a left pelvic contusion. If the 26-year-old is unable to suit up against the Heat, D'Angelo Russell will likely be in the starting five after he 20 points, three rebounds, five assists, and one steal across 34 minutes during Monday's 109-80 loss to the Timberwolves.

Dean Wade Tue Dec 3 5:50pm

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (ankle) will make his return to the court for Tuesday's game against the Washington Wizards. Wade is back in the mix following a six-game absence due to a left ankle sprain. His return won't mean too much with the Cavs mostly healthy at the forward spot. Wade figures to resume his role playing in the teens, which doesn't result in much fantasy value. Isaac Okoro and Georges Niang are likely to see a few less minutes with Wade returning.

Reggie Jackson Tue Dec 3 5:50pm

Philadelphia 76ers guards Kyle Lowry (hip) and Reggie Jackson (knee) are both available ahead of Tuesday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. Lowry will make his return to the court after missing each of the last five games due to a hip strain. The veteran guard is averaging 24 minutes per game, but also had two scoreless outings in two of his last three games. That being said, Lowry isn't too appealing of a streaming option right now. As for Jackson, he'll likely return to his bench role which is normally only minutes in the teens, which won't be enough to give viable streaming value.

Mark Williams Tue Dec 3 5:40pm

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (foot) will make his season debut against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. This will be the first time that Williams has played since December of 2023. Fantasy managers should expect Williams to be under heavy minute restriction. He figures to be eased into action for quite some time, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect Williams to be a great fantasy option right away. He figures to split up the center minutes with Nick Richards. For now, Richards is the better streaming option, but Williams should be a strong option once he's back up to full speed.

Micah Potter Tue Dec 3 5:40pm

Utah Jazz forward/centerMicah Potter (illness) has been downgraded to doubtful for Tuesday's matchup with the Thunder. The Jazz have been shorthanded lately, so Potter has played for at least 13 minutes in three consecutive contests. With the 26-year-old likely sidelined, players like Drew Eubanks, Brice Sensabaugh, and Svi Mykhailiuk could potentially see more playing time. However, they will not be factors in fantasy during Tuesday's contest.

Ty Jerome Tue Dec 3 5:40pm

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (illness) has been ruled out ahead of Tuesday's game against the Washington Wizards. Jerome will head to the sideline for the first time this season. His absence will free up additional playing time behind Darius Garland. This should result in more playing time for Craig Porter Jr. and possibily Caris LeVert sees more minutes as well. LeVert is already averaging 24 minutes per game, so a few more minutes should give him an uptick in fantasy value for Tuesday's slate.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Tue Dec 3 5:30pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is available ahead of Tuesday's game against the Detroit Pistons. As expected, Antetokounmpo will play after being listed as probable on the injury report. The expectation is that Antetokounmpo will have a normal workload in this game. Antetokounmpo has been battling through tendinitis in his knee throughout the season. Despite that, he continues to suit up and play at an elite level. Fantasy managers can feel safe getting Antetokounmpo back in their lineups on Tuesday.

Gradey Dick Tue Dec 3 5:20pm

According to Aaron Rose of SI.com, Toronto Raptors guardGradey Dick(calf)will not suit up against the Pacers on Tuesday. Before suffering a left calf contusion, the 21-year-old averaged 18.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.3 three-pointers in over 32 minutes per contest. In Dick's absence, Ja'Kobe Walterwill likely start once again, as he's made an impression by posting 12 points and three rebounds in 17 minutes against Miami on Sunday.

Nikola Jovic Tue Dec 3 5:10pm

Miami Heat have ruled out forward Nikola Jovic (ankle) and center Kel'el Ware (G-League assignment) for Wednesday's matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Key players Jimmy Butler (knee), Kevin Love (back), and Josh Richardson (illness) are all listed as questionable, adding uncertainty to Miami's rotation. Jovic, who averages 7.7 points per game, will be a notable absence, for Miami Heat's offense and dealing a blow to fantasy managers. Butler's potential return would provide a significant boost to Miami's offense, while the statuses of Love and Richardson could open the door for other players to make an impact.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Tue Dec 3 4:40pm

According to Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Milwaukee Bucks forwardGiannis Antetokounmpo(knee) remains probable and will likely play against the Pistons on Tuesday. Antetokounmpo participated in the team's morning shootaround, which is a good sign he will be on the court this evening. The 29-year-old has been playing exceptionally well recently, averaging 38.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 9.0 assists during his last four appearances. He's also been on fire from the field, shooting 63 percent.

Marjon Beauchamp Tue Dec 3 4:20pm

The Milwaukee Bucks announced guard MarJon Beauchamp (neck) has been downgraded to questionable for Tuesday's contest with the Detroit Pistons due to neck spasms. Beauchamp has also been dealing with a lingering hamstring issue that has caused him to only suit for nine of the 18 Bucks games this season. The 24-year-old averages 1.6 points while playing under five minutes per contest, making him not a strong option for fantasy managers.

Bradley Beal Tue Dec 3 3:50pm

On Tuesday, Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (calf) is available to play against the San Antonio Spurs. He's been dealing with a calf injury that caused him to miss Saturday's game against Golden State. The 31-year-old has performed well when available this season, averaging 18.2 points per game. With the Suns' top players healthy, Beal is expected to make a significant impact in fantasy this evening.

Draymond Green Tue Dec 3 3:40pm

Golden State Warriors forwardDraymond Green(calf) is unavailable for Tuesday's matchup with the Nuggets in the Mile High City. Green hasn't been able to practice this week due to calf tightness. With the 34-year-old sidelined, Jonathan Kuminga andKyle Anderson will likely see an uptick in minutes on the court. However, neither player has been a viable fantasy option so far this season.

Scoot Henderson Tue Dec 3 9:00am

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Scoot Henderson (quadriceps) carries a questionable tag on the injury report ahead of Tuesday's clash against the Clippers. He has played in only one of the Trail Blazers' last six games. Dalano Banton looks set to get extended action again if Henderson doesn't return on Tuesday. He has averaged 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals across the past five games. However, Banton has been very inconsistent in the scoring department, reaching double figures only twice during the stretch.

Robert Williams Tue Dec 3 9:00am

Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (concussion) will miss a fourth consecutive game on Tuesday versus the Clippers. He hasn't traveled to Los Angeles as Williams III remains in concussion protocol. Donovan Clingan (knee) is also currently out, giving Deandre Ayton a big workload. During the team's frontcourt injury crisis, Deni Avdija has also logged some minutes as a center. The Portland centers should be in for a good night on Tuesday, as the Clippers give up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing fives.

Kevin Huerter Tue Dec 3 8:50am

Sacramento Kings guard/forward Kevin Huerter (ankle) has been labeled as questionable for Tuesday's battle against Houston. He has just missed his third game of the season due to an ankle sprain. With Huerter absent on Sunday versus San Antonio, Malik Monk made his first start of the season. He provided a full line in 37 minutes of action, scoring 19 points with seven rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block. Huerter practiced fully on Monday, which signals that there's a good chance he will return against the Rockets. However, Kings head coach Mike Brown suggested on Sunday that Monk may continue to roll with the starters, which will be a big blow to Huerter's fantasy value.

Jeremy Sochan Tue Dec 3 8:40am

San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (thumb) appears ready to rejoin the lineup on Tuesday against Phoenix. He has been listed as probable on the injury report. A fractured thumb has robbed Sochan of 13 games. He looked good before the injury happened, averaging 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals. Stephon Castle has run with the starters during Sochan's absence, although Julian Champagnie might be the one who has to make way in the first unit for Sochan.

Zach Edey Tue Dec 3 8:30am

Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (ankle) has been ruled out for Tuesday's matchup against Dallas, marking an eighth consecutive absence for him. The rookie giant is recovering from a left ankle sprain. Brandon Clarke will likely receive another start on Tuesday. It's a good matchup for him, as the Mavericks have struggled to stop big men this season, giving up the fourth-most fantasy points in the league to opposing fives.


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