Sixers star Joel Embiid exits with mild right calf tightness

CHICAGO (AP)— Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid left Wednesday night’s 116-91victory over the Chicago Bulls with mild right calf tightness.

Embiid, oneof the front-runners for the NBA MVP award, finished with 12points, seven rebounds and seven assists in just over 16 minutes ofplaying time. The 7-foot center said the move wasprecautionary.

“Like Ialways say, it’s all about the playoffs, trying to make sure we getthere healthy,” he said. “We’re just going to see how it goes thenext few days.”

The29-year-old Embiid said he first felt the calf tightness duringMonday night’s double-overtime loss to the Bulls. Then he felt itagain in the first half Wednesday in Chicago.

Philadelphia(49-23) visits Golden State on Friday night for its next game.Embiid said he likely will be able to play against the Warriors,but isn’t exactly sure how the injury would react.

“If it feelsgood, of course I will want to play,” he said. “But if it’s notright, then we’re going to figure it out.”

Philadelphiacoach Doc Rivers called Embiid’s injury “very mild.”

“We just feltlike (keeping him out) was the right thing to do,” Rivers said.

Star guardJames Harden and forward Jalen McDaniels missed Wednesday night’swin with injuries. Harden was sidelined by left Achilles soreness,and McDaniels was ruled out because of right hip soreness.

Harden playedalmost 47 minutes during Monday night’s loss to the Bulls,finishing with five points on 2-for-14 shooting and 12 assists. Heis averaging 21.4 points and an NBA-high 10.8 assists in 53 gamesthis season.

Rivers saidhe thinks Harden will be able to play against Golden State.

“We’ve goneinto the playoffs two years in a row with injuries,” Rivers said.“We all know you don’t win in the playoffs if your key guys aren’thealthy. Period. And so we’re going to do whatever we can to behealthy.”