Philadelphia 76ers’ prized free-agent acquisition Paul George left Monday’s preseason sport towards Atlanta with a hyperextended left knee.
There was no rapid replace on how a lot time George may miss following his harm. A nine-time All-Star, George’s knee buckled on a defensive play within the second quarter. He scored eight factors in 12 minutes in a 104-89 victory.
“I felt that it hyperextended, and instantly it was, all proper, I must get taken out and (checked out), however in case you ask me, I’m not too involved about it,” George instructed The Philadelphia Inquirer.
76ers coach Nick Nurse stated the 34-year-old George can be examined on Tuesday.
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“You by no means need something to occur to anyone,” Nurse stated. “Definitely, simply sort of attempting to work him into issues. He desires to work into issues, too. This doesn’t give us an opportunity to try this. Hopefully, it’ll be okay, so he’s again with us straight away.”
The Sixers have been cautious with its star gamers and shut down centre Joel Embiid on Sunday for the remainder of the preseason for what the staff known as left knee administration.
The 76ers — which signed George to a four-year, $212 million contract as a free agent this summer time — is his fourth staff, after seven years with Indiana, two with Oklahoma Metropolis and the final 5 as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s a six-time All-NBA choice and has averaged 20.8 factors over his first 14 NBA seasons.
With George becoming a member of the 2023 NBA MVP in Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers had been anticipated to boast one of the crucial formidable trios within the league because it tries to place collectively a nucleus that may compete with NBA champion Boston.
George performed 76 video games final season, the primary time he performed greater than 56 since 2018-19.
The Sixers aren’t anticipating George and Embiid to push 75 video games throughout the common season.
Embiid has by no means been wholesome for a complete postseason run, one cause the Sixers have stumbled within the postseason on his watch and a reasonably large blight — honest or not — on his legacy. If the Sixers can’t hold George and Embiid in a single piece come April, one other empty season could possibly be on faucet.
George made 8 of 15 pictures and scored a team-high 23 factors final week in his preseason debut towards Minnesota.