"These are the games that will test the Sixers, when they have to play without their top two centers in Spencer Hawes and rookie Nikola Vucevic.

Hawes missed his fourth straight game Monday, this one against the Washington Wizards, with a left Achilles' tendon strain, while Vucevic sat out with a left quadriceps strain.

It could have been worse. Elton Brand was sent home during the shoot-around with a stomach virus, but he started against the Wizards."