By Shelly Selover
Sixers coach Brett Brown was asked Friday night about changes made to the starting lineup.
Namely benching Al Horford.
Lineups with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Horford have a minus-0.1 net rating in 410 minutes. During those minutes, Horford is shooting just 37.5 percent and 26.5 percent from 3.
“It’s all on the table,” Brown said.
Afterward, GM Elton Brand said decisions on the starting lineup were Brown’s call to make.
“Brett’s been empowered to make any decision he feels to win. Whatever that is, he’s been empowered to do it,” Brand said before the game. “It hasn’t been this latest road woes and losing streak — we’ve talked about this weeks ago. Whatever you feel needs to be done, let’s win.”
The Sixers went into halftime with a 58-44 lead, but they came out with rookie Matisse Thybulle starting the second half and no sight of Embiid.
A few minutes later, word arrived that Embiid had a stiff neck and was unavailable to return.
He’s iffy for tonight’s Bulls game.
