76ers rookie Nerlens Noel to miss second consecutive game

TORONTO -- 76ers post players Nerlens Noel and Malcolm Thomas won't play Sunday night against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. This will be the second consecutive game they missed due to injuries.

Noel, a 6-foot-11, 217-pounder center/power forward, is dealing with a sprained left ankle.  Thomas, a fourth-year reserve power forward, has fluid on his left knee.  He did not make the trip to Canada.

Henry Sims will start at center in place of Noel.

Noel suffered the injury in the third quarter of Wednesday's 91-89 setback to the Orlando Magic. He did not return to that game.

The former Kentucky standout is struggling to stay healthy.   He sat out last season while rehabilitate a left knee injury he suffered his lone season in college. This preseason, Noel missed one game with a charley horse in his right quadriceps and missed three others with an upper respiratory infection.

Meanwhile, Thomas has been playing with fluid on his left knee for the past week two weeks. He had an MRI on Tuesday.

If he decides to have surgery, the 6-9, 225-pounder will be sidelined four weeks. If not, he'll continue to play in pain.

Thomas averaged 4.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 14.3 minutes in the first five games. Noel averaged 7.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.8 blocks.

The Sixers take a 0-6 record into the contest against the 5-1 Raptors.  Raptors power forward Amir Johnson, who had been dealing with a sore left ankle, will play.

Follow Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers