Philadelphia Sixers head coach Nick Nurse expressed skepticism that Paul George will participate in both games of the upcoming back-to-back against the Toronto Raptors and the Milwaukee Bucks. This comes after George made his season debut against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, following a lengthy recovery from offseason knee surgery that kept him sidelined for 12 games.
“He was good,” Nurse reported on Tuesday, noting that after the game, George was feeling healthy and fully engaged in practice. The star forward played 21 minutes during his return, scoring nine points, but he was under a minutes restriction, a detail Nurse declined to specify prior to the game. Despite shooting 2-of-9 from the field, including 1-of-4 from three-point range, George’s presence was already making a noticeable impact on the court.
His teammate Trendon Watford highlighted George’s dual defensive capabilities, stating, “We all know what he can do as far as on-ball defending, but he’s also a great off-ball defender.” Watford emphasized the importance of George filling the leadership void left by Kelly Oubre Jr., who is currently out due to injury.
Dominick Barlow, another Sixers player, mirrored the excitement about George’s return, noting that his playstyle creates better spacing for the entire team. “It’s going to make our lineups a lot more interesting, and it’s going to be fun,” Barlow remarked, as he felt confident leaving behind the injury that had sidelined him.
While George’s comeback is seen as a significant boost for the team, Nurse provided no updates on the status of Oubre or star center Joel Embiid. Embiid participated fully in Tuesday’s practice but has missed four games due to right knee soreness. Nurse indicated that the situation is improving but described Embiid as still being “day to day.” Oubre, who is recovering from a lateral collateral ligament injury sustained last week, also remains under observation.
As the Sixers navigate through injuries and player rotations, the return of Paul George is a hopeful sign. His ability to contribute defensively and offensively brings a renewed vigor to the team, aiming for a stronger performance in the coming games.