Sixers getting Curry back, just not tonight

Sixers starting guard Seth Curry has cleared the NBA's health and safety protocol and is set to rejoin the team.

The 30-year-old last played on January 6. He was out for the second half of a back-to-back with ankle soreness the following night against the Brooklyn Nets, but was still seen on the bench to begin the game. Shortly thereafter, he learned he tested positive for COVID-19 and vacated the bench area to move to an isolation room. In total, he has missed six games.

Though he has been cleared to play, he will remain out for Wednesday night's game, the first of a two-game set with the Boston Celtics. He will instead build up his conditioning for game action, and could be available for Friday's matchup.

Curry had a terrific start to the season before he was sidelined. He averaged 17.0 points per game and greatly bolstered the Sixers' spacing, canning 25 of his 42 3-pointers, a brilliant 59.5%.

His return will likely send Tyrese Maxey back to the bench. The 20-year-old rookie filled in admirably in the backcourt during Curry's absence. In his five starts, Maxey averaged 19.4 points and 3.8 assists in 32.2 minutes. Shake Milton started in Curry's first game out before landing in the health and safety protocols himself.

Guard Furkan Korkmaz will also be rejoining the team after missing the last 11 games with an adductor strain. The Turkish sniper is averaging 6.0 points and 2.0 rebounds across three appearances this season.