Nick Nurse

Karl-Anthony Towns may draw a power forward, not a center, in the 76ers' Oct. 20 opener at the Knicks: Nick Nurse is weighing putting his center on Josh Hart. The upside: more switching on screens. The risk: can Towns pass, rebound, post up and shoot over a power forward?

Joel Embiid is "ready to go" for the 76ers' opener, Nick Nurse said: "Some of those things weren't going on a year ago." Dean Wade, Dominick Barlow and Tacko Fall did not practice. Wade wore a practice jersey anyway. "Shouldn't make any judgments by those jerseys," Nurse said.

Dean Wade rolled his ankle late in the first half of the 76ers' preseason game, but Nick Nurse called it "not major concern," saying they were "just cautious because preseason game." Nurse hopes to add "about 3 or 4 players" by Oct. 20: "I don't know if we will or not."

Joel Embiid played 29 minutes in the 76ers' preseason game, and Nick Nurse liked it: "I think that's pretty hard playing 29 minutes for him, which is— I like to see." He said Embiid shook off rust from the first game, pointing to his 8 defensive rebounds.

"Is it Tyrese and Joel and Jaylen and Labaron or whatever?" Nick Nurse doesn't yet know which 76ers combinations of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Labaron Philon Jr. work. Asked if Brown will lead second-unit lineups: "Possibly. I don't know yet."

Dominick Barlow is getting "real decent time off" for soreness, and Nick Nurse said at 76ers practice there is no date for his return: "There is no timeline. He's got, you know, he just has some soreness that he's dealing with."

Anfernee Simons did half-court work at 76ers practice, no scrimmaging. On playing Oct. 16, Nick Nurse said "there's certainly some hope." He wants Simons back by Oct. 20, and Adem Bona too, "if we can." Healthy, Simons is his bench guard; if not, Labaron Philon Jr. plays.

Jabari Walker and Dean Wade are where Nick Nurse will start at backup center with Ariel Hukporti injured, the 76ers coach said at practice. Walker has earned it: "I think Jabari's played outstanding, actually."

Tyrese Maxey should get more looks created by teammates and off-ball actions this season, Nick Nurse said at 76ers practice. The payoff he wants: "it should help him just be able to have a little more energy to rebound more, play more defense, things like that."

"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."

Ariel Hukporti went down injured against the Knicks and Nick Nurse gave no status or timeline. Jaylen Brown: "I hope it's nothing too severe. I guess they're going to get some second imaging." A reporter raised the Achilles; the 76ers haven't confirmed it.

Jaylen Brown will be moved "in all the places he can score from," including the post, 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. "Going to need to." Nurse called him a methodical driver built on balance and strength. Brown on pace: "During the first 3 quarters, we should be up and down."

Anfernee Simons hasn't been worked into the 76ers' lineup, and Nick Nurse gave no timeline. Nurse on scoring: "Simons will provide some of that as well once we get him in there." Floated in the postgame room: Jaylen Brown with VJ Edgecombe or Simons alongside the second unit.

Labaron Philon Jr., the 76ers' rookie point guard, played 25 minutes against the Knicks. Nick Nurse said New York was "pinning him on the side a little bit" and the staff will work on giving him a countermove. Philon called matching up with Jalen Brunson surreal.

Nick Nurse said LeBron James stops sets in practice to show teammates the exact angles: "This is the angle we need." Ariel Hukporti, asked about competing with Adem Bona for minutes: "whoever gets in, gets in, getting that job done." They faced off as teens: Germany vs. Turkey.

From 76ers practice: Adem Bona isn't practicing; Nick Nurse wants him ready for some preseason games after an evaluation in the coming days. Joel Embiid and LeBron James have done everything for three days, managing their own scrimmage reps: "the smart way to play it right now."

Nurse called Anfernee Simons "maybe a prototypical off-the-bench... scoring guy." He sees LeBron James as "a great offense creator. And I don't necessarily mean scorer." Base offense: "let's get the ball up the floor, let's attack in transition, let's hit the paint a lot."

Jaylen Brown on summer work with LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey: Maxey's speed, James reading from the elbow, Brown "getting to my spots, to the elbows, using my mid-range ability." Camp has opened on defense; Nick Nurse is "defensive-minded first," Brown said.