Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford are cleared to play against Washington Wizards
Oubre has been sidelined with a sprained left knee ligament since mid-November. Watford has been out with a strained left thigh muscle.

For the first time all season, the 76ers had all of their main players available heading into Wednesday night’s game against the Washington Wizards.
Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford were both cleared to play after being upgraded from questionable and probable earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid, who’s dealing left knee injury management and right ankle soreness, will play after being listed as questionable on Tuesday.
Oubre has been sidelined since he suffered a sprained left knee ligament against the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 14. Watford has not played since he suffered a strained left thigh muscle against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 25.
» READ MORE: Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford upgraded to questionable vs. Wizards
“Especially after coming back from the loss that we just had, I think it adds more energy,” Jabari Walker said of the possibility of finally having a full roster. “Now we are playing for something bigger. We are playing for everybody. You know, games like that naturally boost everyone’s energy.
“So I’m excited for tonight. We have literally everything we need. It’s a matter of us coming together and jelling as a group.”
Meanwhile, the Wizards (10-25) will be without the injured Kyshawn George (left hip), CJ McCollum (right quadriceps), Khris Middleton (right knee), and former Villanova standout Cam Whitmore (right shoulder).
Dwindling days
Walker and Dominick Barlow aren’t your traditional two-way players. These contracts are usually reserved for seldom-used players, but Barlow is the Sixers’ starting power forward and Walker serves as his dependable backup.
Their availability is beginning to dwindle, though.
Barlow, who missed 10 games this season with an injury, has 26 games left on his two-way deal. Walker has only 16 left.
But since the Sixers have a standard-contract roster spot available, their remaining available games are lower. The team has only 20 games remaining among Barlow, Walker, and MarJon Beauchamp, their third two-way player. Beauchamp has spent most of his time with the Delaware Blue Coats after signing with the Sixers on Dec. 26.
So, in theory, if Barlow and Walker played in 10 straight games, the Sixers would be without two-way contracts until they signed an extra player. One way to briefly fill the 15th standard roster spot is to sign someone to a 10-day contract.
But the Sixers could convert Barlow or Walker’s contract to a standard deal. Then they could convert the remaining two-way power forward after trading or waiving one of their current teammates on a standard deal.
“Every now and then, it will pop up in my mind, but just putting my energy toward what I can control right now,” Walker said of the dwindling days. “And just whatever happens, just knowing that I left an impact on my teammates and left an impact in the game, I think that’s the biggest truth.”
Walker has averaged 4.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 13.0 minutes in 32 games. Meanwhile, Barlow has averaged career highs of 8.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 24.0 minutes through 24 games, with a career-high 21 starts.
Right now, the two aren’t letting the two-way contracts define them, given the unique situation.
Walker spent the last three seasons on a standard contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. Barlow’s previous two-way deals with the San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks were converted to standard deals.
“We’re both big pieces, and we have similar styles sometimes with our energy,” Walker said. “So we just talk about how we can be effective with the team, how we can both bring more energy.”