Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, of the 76ers in Philadelphia, ruled out Thursday due to COVID-19 contact tracking

The Philadelphia 76ers said Tuesday that stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons would miss Thursday’s game against the Chicago Bulls, and that Simmons will miss Friday’s game against the Washington Wizards, due to the same contact tracking that prevented them. . participating in Sunday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.

Assuming both remain negative for COVID-19 (as they have so far), Embiid will be able to qualify for Friday night’s game against Washington, while Simmons will be able to return home on Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs.

Both players were retired from the All-Star Game on Sunday after coming into contact with a barber in Philadelphia who later tested positive for COVID-19. However, the NBA had strict quarantines for everyone involved in the league’s mid-season showcase, and both players were able to leave Atlanta later that day and return to Philadelphia. They were the only two people involved in the game who had issues with the positive test or follow-up contacts over the weekend.

The Sixers finished the first half of the season with the best record in the Eastern Conference, half a game ahead of the Brooklyn Nets. They will practice Wednesday night before returning to the Chicago track on Thursday.

Embiid is in the midst of the best season of his career, averaging more than 30 points and 11 rebounds per game, and as a result is one of the top contenders for the NBA MVP award.

Simmons averages 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game, and has combined his ever-impressive defensive skills with a recent burst of offensive offense, including scoring 42 points. in the race in Utah last month in a game Embiid won. to an injury.