Charles F. Gardner: 76ers say Nerlens Noel is out with a left ankle sprain, so Jahlil Okafor should get minutes off bench. Okafor played well Sat. vs. Wash.
More on Brown-Okafor Dynamic
Tom Moore: #Sixers Brown: 'Jahlil Okafor is going to be just fine.'
“It’s not ideal to put anybody in it,” Okafor said of not playing. “Obviously, it’s a funky situation. Funky for all of us. Right now, I’m the person who’s sitting out.”
“Obviously, it’s not what I want to be in a position,” Okafor said. “I know I’m not the type of player that’s DNP. But that’s what it is right now. Coach Brown has been phenomenal with communicating with me. I know in the long run, I’ll be fine.”
Tom Moore: Okafor calls his situation 'funky.' #Sixers
Tom Moore: #Sixers Brown says Okafor came in late last night to shoot.
Brian Mahoney: Sergio Rodriguez back but McConnell remains starter at PG for 76ers. Brett Brown vague when asked if Okafor would play.
Meanwhile, Okafor didn't play at all vs. the Celtics, as Brown inserted Noel into the rotation and moved Okafor out, at least temporarily. That marked the first time in Okafor's 1½-year pro career he was a "DNP-CD (Did Not Play-Coach's Decision)." Okafor needs to be a starter, but that won't happen with Embiid here. Noel is better than Okafor in a reserve role because of his defensive work. "We are learning," Brown told reporters afterward. "It's difficult to play three 'bigs' in a 48-minute window."
