Fans were surprised when the Philadelphia 76ers duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons was suddenly unavailable for the All-Star Game. Unfortunately, the two had to miss out on the annual event due to contact tracing protocols. 

The NBA has stated that Embiid will have to quarantine until Friday, while Simmons' will have to wait until Saturday. The two will miss a combined two games for the Sixers.

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This comes as a relief to Sixers fans and the organization, as the team already had players miss time because of health and safety protocols, such as the sharpshooting guard Seth Curry. Philly will need both players to sustain their top rank in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia is playing its best basketball in years. Joel Embiid is a legitimate MVP candidate, as he has made a huge leap in his play. He is scoring more and doing so more efficiently and his outside shooting commands respect from defenders, as he is making over 40 percent of his attempts. Embiid continues to be a force inside on both ends of the floor for the Sixers. His high-level of play should continue in the playoffs, especially since there are only a handful of bigs that can hope to contain him. 

Meanwhile, Ben Simmons' play has been consistent, but this time he is one of the frontrunners for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Even the third-best player on the Sixers in Tobias Harris has been having a great season so far. Harris has familiarity playing for current head coach Doc Rivers in their stint together with the Los Angeles Clippers.