NBA Notes: Sixers, Paul George, Warriors, Draymond Green, Heat

76ers

Sixers coach Nick Nurse may have a tough call coming. Paul George could be back soon and the assumption has been that he would replace Kelly Oubre Jr. in the starting five.

But Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that Oubre has done too much to just pull him out.

“I think Kelly has been really outstanding,” Nurse said. “He was fighting Brandon Ingram most of the night. He has done that consistently. He has been really good and done a good job of playing physical.”

Oubre is averaging 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks. That plays.

At any rate, Joel Embiid dropped a season-high 29 on Saturday. But he said he’s thinking more about sharing it.

“It’s just about moving the ball,” Embiid said, via Pompey. “Passing to the open guy. I’m not too worried about the offense.”

Warriors

Golden State got punched early in Denver and never woke up. They lost by 25 and Draymond Green didn’t bother sugarcoating it.

He said the Warriors displayed “a lack of purpose and energy,” as relayed by Nick Friedell of The Athletic.

Coach Steve Kerr didn’t mince words either.

“There has to be some fire in the belly to get out of a tough night,” Kerr said. “You have to fight and compete every second. It didn’t feel like we did that tonight.”

Meanwhile, Stephen Curry missed two games with an illness. Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle wrote that Curry is listed as questionable for Sunday against the Pacers. Al Horford is also questionable with a foot strain.

Heat

Miami needed bodies. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Norman Powell both played through ankle sprains and the Heat picked up a win over the Trail Blazers.

“Jaime at 3 o’clock was not cleared to play,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, via Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. “He spent three hours getting his ankle ready. He even skipped walkthrough. Then he got cleared after that, gave us everything.”

Jaquez went for 14 points, 12 boards and seven assists. Powell scored 22. This is the version of Jaquez the Heat were hoping would return after his second-year dip. And he is in the very early Sixth Man conversation.

“We want to take pride in being that energy booster,” Jaquez said.

For the record, Miami and Portland combined for 267 points. Spoelstra said this is part of the identity shift he wanted from Day One of camp.

“Embracing the unknown was the first thing from media day,” Spoelstra said. “Both teams were attacking.”