The Philadelphia 76ers plan to further evaluate Paul George (L) on Thursday after he sustained a knee injury against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday in Memphis. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE
Philadelphia 76ers fans finally witnessed Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George share the court as teammates, but the elation was short-lived, as a knee injury forced George to exit early during the loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
George hyperextended his left knee about 30 seconds into the second half of the 117-111 defeat by the Grizzlies on Wednesday in Memphis. Advertisement
Coach Nick Nurse later told reporters that the injury was similar to the one George sustained in the same knee during the preseason. George missed the first five games of the season as a result. The 76ers plan to further evaluate his knee Thursday to determine the extent of the injury.
“He was fairly close to coming back into game, but it stiffened up so we decided not to [put him back in],” Nurse said of George. Advertisement
George, who signed a $212 million contract with the 76ers in free agency, started alongside Maxey and Embiid for the first time Wednesday at FedExForum. The trio shared the court for just 6:32 in the first quarter. Nurse shuffled the lineup with substitutions after the initial stretch of their first shared court time.
The trio returned to start the third quarter, but that ended almost immediately. George’s injury sequence began when he first attempted to block a shot by forward Desmond Bane. Bane missed the shot and George batted the ball away for a rebound, but injured his knee in the process.
George then corralled the loose ball and passed it on. He then bent over and trainers tended to him before he walked to the sideline and ended his night.
George totaled two points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in 17:27 of action. Embiid, who bumped knees with Grizzlies center Jaren Jackson Jr., but remained in the game, led the 76ers with 35 points and 11 rebounds.
Maxey chipped in eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Fellow 76ers guard Jared McCain logged 20 points and five assists.
Maxey, who returned from a six-game absence triggered by a hamstring issue, made just 3 of 13 shot attempts. He was 0 for 6 from 3-point range. Advertisement
Jackson scored a team-high 25 points in the victory. Bane recorded 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Grizzlies.
The 76ers, who made the playoffs each of the last seven seasons and were at least 12 games over .500 each of those years, have lost 10 of their last 11 games and have the NBA’s worst record at 2-12.
Embiid ($51.4M), George ($49.2M) and Maxey ($35.1M) are set to be paid more than $135.7 million in combined salary this season.
Injuries, roster management and an Embiid suspension have resulted in at least two of the stars missing eight of the 76ers’ first 14 games of 2024-25. Maxey and George missed six games apiece, while Embiid missed 10.
“It’s certainly not easy,” Nurse said. “Tyrese just getting back and he didn’t really have a feel and Paul going out. I don’t think we put enough together again for 48 [minutes].”
The 76ers will take a five-game losing streak into an NBA Cup group stage matchup with the Brooklyn Nets at 7 p.m. EST Friday in Philadelphia.
