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Philadelphia coach Brett Brown watched star center Joel Embiid participate in morning shootaround at Target Center and sure sounded like a guy who expect his big man to play.

"I thought he looked O.K., he moved around," Brown said. "He had a good day yesterday and we hope to see him play tonight."

Embiid has missed the last two games beacuse of tightness in his back. The Sixers are 12-9 when he plays this season, 1-4 when he doesn't.

Brown expressed more doubt about backup point guard T.J. McConnell and forward Robert Covington playing tonight.

The Sixers listed McConnell (shoulder) as available in yesterday's injury report and Covington (lower back contusion) as questionable for tonight's game 8:30 p.m. start for ESPN, but neither are guaranteed to go, according to Brown.

Both will work out before tonight's game and decide.

"I'm more worried about Rob and T.J. than I am Joel," Brown said.

Meanwhile, Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said after his team's shoot this morning that reserve forward Nemanja Bjelica remains out because of that mid-foot sprain. He has missed the last nine games because of it.