Atlantic Notes: Sixers, MPJ, Nets, Dick, Murray-Boyles

The short-handed Sixers continued to tumble down the Eastern Conference standings with Monday’s loss in Cleveland, but they haven’t given up hope of turning things around, writes Tony Jones of The Athletic. Philadelphia is currently in eighth place after dropping four of its last five games, and the schedule doesn’t ease up this week. However, players continue to believe things will improve once the stars get back on the court.

“We have, what, four of our five starters out?” Justin Edwards said. “We know that we have a chance when we have all of our guys.”

Joel Embiid, who has only played twice in the past month due to a strained right oblique, will be reevaluated after Tuesday’s game, according to Jones. Tyrese Maxey, who suffered a finger sprain over the weekend, wore a splint on Monday and will consult with a specialist later this week, coach Nick Nurse told reporters. Star rookie VJ Edgecombe continues to recover from a lumbar contusion, while Paul George has two weeks remaining on his 25-game suspension.

“We have to play hard, and we have to make more shots,” Cameron Payne said. “We have to do a better job of creating better shots for each other. That’s important for us. We need to go 1-0 every day. That’s the goal. We obviously are where we are in the standings, so we have to find a way to win. At the end of the day, that means getting stops and for us to keep playing together.”

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

• The Nets face a major decision this summer on Michael Porter Jr., Brian Lewis of The New York Post notes in a subscriber-only piece. Porter, who has cooled down after a sensational first half of the season, will be eligible for an extension, and general manager Sean Marks will have to determine whether he’s worth a major investment or if it’s wiser for Brooklyn to get whatever it can in a trade. Sources have told Lewis that Porter has discussed his future with Marks and would like to remain with the Nets. Porter, who sat out Monday’s game, talked about his focus for the remainder of the season. “The motivation to make the playoffs might not be there,” he said, “but the motivation individually — as a player, as a person, to go out there and work on my skills, my leadership skills, and my individual things within the team — that’s still there. So, you can’t just throw away a season because you’re not making the playoffs.”
• Both teams were short-handed as the Nets defeated Memphis on Monday. The victory dropped Brooklyn to fourth in the lottery race, but players said they’re focused on trying to be successful rather than tanking, Lewis adds in a separate story. “We’re trying to win every game,” Day’Ron Sharpe said. “Nobody likes losing. So just always trying to win and always bring good energy.” 
• Eric Koreen of The Athletic considers whether the Raptors should part with Gradey Dick this summer, the long-term future for Collin Murray-Boyles and other topics in a mailbag column.