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NBA All-Star Game 2021 GameThread: Simmons, Embiid out due to coronavirus protocols

Chat about tonight’s game here.

By Albert Lee
Los Angeles Clippers v Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal will be starting tonight.
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The 2021 NBA All-Star Game and events are tonight, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. You can watch the game on TNT.

There is one notable late scratch in today’s game. Philadelphia 76ers players Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are out due to the NBA’s Health and Safety protocols. They were listed as a close contact to someone who tested positive for the coronavirus. Because of time constraints, they will not have an injury replacement for the All-Star Game.

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal will play in the game and he’ll start! We have gotten used to seeing teams play games without fans, but it’ll still be strange to see a marquee event without them for the first time since we’re closing in on one year since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

For us Wizards fans, we should consider this game to be our NBA Finals since a playoff berth is a dream at the moment. It’s not unachievable, but it’s a stretch goal for now.

Go Brad! Get the All-Star Game MVP award!