Embiid and Lowry still sidelined, George hopes to return soon for the Sixers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
CAMDEN, NJ – Even before the Sixers released their latest stream of injury updates, Paul George and Joel Embiid’s shoes after practice were telling.
Embiid wore slippers and chatted with Sixers assistant coach Bryan Gates. George wore basketball shoes and I followed individual training.
The official word from the Sixers was that Embiid (left knee injury management)George (left knee bruise) and Kyle Lowry (right hip sprain) would all remain out for the team’s Wednesday night game against the Rockets. However, George partially participated in training and said he intended to return to action “over the next week.”
After facing Houston, the Sixers’ next game is Saturday against the Pistons.
“That’s kind of the mindset I had,” George said. “I’m obviously not entirely clear yet, but that’s the mindset I’m targeting. Given how the knee feels and how the training is going, I’m hoping that within a week I’ll be ready to go.
George wore a knee brace Tuesday and said he was “trying to flirt with it to give him a little extra protection.”
The Sixers also listed Caleb Martin as questionable due to lower back soreness. Martin fell violently on his back during the Victory for the Sixers Friday night against the Nets. Even though he started the team resounding defeat two days later against the ClippersMartin sat for most of the second half. He did not practice Tuesday.
After the Sixers’ dismal 3-13 performance against the Clippers, head coach Nick Nurse described practice as “a little edgy, as you would expect.”
“There was a good intensity there,” Nurse said. “It wasn’t a lot of down time. We have worked long enough and hard enough.
The Sixers’ expected Big 3 of Embiid, George and Tyrese Maxey haven’t worked together in a long time.
Asked about the many obstacles thus far to building team chemistry, George noted that the team’s All-Star trio has shared the yard for six minutes.
“And we’re 16 games in,” he said. “It’s a challenge, especially when you look at the guys who came here to play with me, Joel and Tyrese. And we ask them to do a lot in our absence. So it’s hard. It’s hard for me to watch this.
“Guys are putting everything on the line. Some of them are getting beat up. … That’s why I’m working extremely hard to try to come back – to help these guys. But it’s a challenge. It’s all been difficult and frustrating, but that’s life. You have to keep moving forward. I live by that. One foot in front of the other, keep going.
