Joel Embiid, James Harden will sit out Sixers’ preseason matchup with the Boston Celtics

Joel Embiid and James Harden will miss the 76ers’ preseason game Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics, the team said after shootaround.

It is the second consecutive exhibition game that the Sixers’ stars will sit out, though neither player is injured. When coach Nick Nurse was asked during his pregame news conference if it is a “fair expectation” that Embiid and Harden will be ready to play in Monday’s preseason game at the Brooklyn Nets, he said, “Yeah, I think so” but added “I’m not so sure I would put any money on it.” Nurse added that those players missing game-like action is not because of any offseason health setbacks.

“They’re multi-year, veteran guys,” Nurse said. “I think this is [vice president of athlete care Simon Rice] and his crew getting guys ready to go for opening night.”

Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will also miss Wednesday’s game, coach Joe Mazzulla said during his pregame availability.

Sixers reserve swingman Furkan Korkmaz (hamstring) will also remain out Wednesday, while Danuel House Jr. was a late addition to the list of absences. Reserve guard De’Anthony Melton is expected to return from an adductor injury after missing Sunday’s matchup in Boston.

Embiid and Harden participated in Wednesday’s shootaround, though Harden was not on the floor during the media viewing period at the end of the workout. Embiid went through individual work with personal trainer Drew Hanlen after his teammates left the floor.

Harden continues to seek a trade but has been with the Sixers since their second training-camp practice in Fort Collins, Colo., last Wednesday. He scrimmaged for the first time Saturday in Boston, and Nurse said following Tuesday’s practice that the staff continues to take a “day-by-day” approach with Harden’s reintegration. Nurse added before Wednesday’s game that it is “for sure” important that Harden plays in a preseason game.

“It’s important to get everybody in, as soon as they get ready to go,” Nurse said, referring to Harden and Embiid. “It’s certainly important that we see what it’s like. And when it gets down to the last one, you’re trying to get some kind of handle or sense of what your rotation’s going to look like. It’s important that these guys continue [to progress].

“They’ve still been doing everything [in practice]. They’re just not ready to play. Hopefully they’ll be ready for the next game — everybody, hopefully — and they’ll get a couple games under their belt.”

» READ MORE: Sixers taking day-by-day approach with James Harden as preseason home opener approaches

Embiid is the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player, after averaging a league-high 33.1 points to go along with 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. Harden led the NBA in assists last season (10.7 per game) while also averaging 21 points and 6.1 rebounds.

Embiid’s absence means reserve big men Paul Reed and Mo Bamba, who both struggled in Sunday’s game in Boston, should get plenty of minutes Wednesday. And it should also present more time in the lead guard spot for Tyrese Maxey, who scored 24 points in 29 minutes Sunday.

Melton, meanwhile, said he felt “amazing” following Wednesday’s shootaround. While watching Sunday’s game, he praised his teammates’ “consistent motion” on offense, along with their defensive communication.

Though Melton is most known for his defensive prowess and stuff-the-box-score versatility, he also expressed confidence in being a complementary ball handler when needed. That could prove valuable depending on how the Harden situation unfolds.

“I feel like I’m fully capable of it,” said Melton, who averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals last season. “I think that’s what this team needs. I’ve got to attack that and understand, sometimes I’m going to have to set stuff up, and sometimes I may have to go score at that point guard position, too.”

New Sixers guard Patrick Beverley’s podcast, aptly named the “Pat Bev Pod,” featured a significant guest this week: former Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin, who is also a close friend of Harden’s.

Beverley is also a former Harden teammate, and said a reason he chose to sign with the Sixers during the offseason was that potential reunion. Unsurprisingly, both men were supportive of Harden in their discussion, with Rubin saying the ongoing saga “wouldn’t have happened” if he were still part of Sixers ownership. The Fanatics CEO sold his 10% stake in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment about a year ago because of potential conflict of interest as his business expanded into player partnerships and sports betting.

“First of all, James is family to me, and I’m not going to hide about that,” Rubin said. “I love James. This thing is breaking my heart. This thing was just not handled well. ... There’s nobody who wants to win a championship more than James Harden.

“I know this guy like my brother. People give James a hard time because he likes to have fun. It’s [expletive]. The guy’s work ethic for basketball is insane.”

Beverley added that Harden has been “cooking” in recent practices since rejoining the Sixers.

“Oh, I’m talking about the pot was out and he was stirring that [expletive] up,” Beverley said. “... His attitude has been great. He’s been leading. He’s been giving advice. You might hear all the bad [expletive] on TV from reporters who are not there, but actually being a teammate that’s there, he’s been phenomenal.”

One logistical change under Nurse: The Sixers held Wednesday’s shootaround at the Wells Fargo Center, after former coach Doc Rivers always held those morning sessions at the team’s practice facility in Camden.

The reasoning? Nurse said past players have shared that they prefer to shoot on the baskets they will use in the game that night, so “we took advantage of that” Wednesday. Though his Toronto Raptors teams regularly used Scotiabank Arena for shootarounds, they also moved some to their practice facility because of driving convenience for players and staff. But he anticipated a fair amount of game-day sessions to be in South Philly for the rest of the calendar year.

“I’ve got to still keep finding my way around a little bit,” Nurse said of what makes the most sense with the Sixers. “We’ve got to figure all that stuff out.”