LeBron James says Nick Nurse's push for quick 76ers passes, even after made baskets, suits VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown: "You got VJ, you got Tyrese, you got JB, we're able to punch gaps... The guys are not going to really be able to stay in front of them."
"You're just kind of trying to get to that number, 16, 18 minutes." Nick Nurse on LeBron James, in what appeared to be his first game: first half only, shorter stints than normal. Joel Embiid played about 24 minutes; he "just needs to get some rust off," Nurse said.
Nick Nurse expects most 76ers available for the next preseason game but wouldn't commit after a rough, physical practice. Veterans will still play, usually first halves, because sitting out means "all of a sudden it's going 100 miles an hour in game 1."
Losing Ariel Hukporti is "a blow for, for the team, especially this early on," Nick Nurse said at 76ers practice. His small-ball center group: Jabari Walker, Dominick Barlow, Dean Wade and Labaron Philon Jr. He'll "probably go with that crew unless something else emerges."