PHILADELPHIA — After much pregame prevarication, Paul George went from questionable to probable to playing for the first time this season.
George was penciled into the starting lineup Monday night against the Clippers for the first start since March 4, his 41st and final game of a disastrous and injury-filled first season with the 76ers. It’s fitting that his debut came against the Clippers, for whom he played prior to signing with the 76ers in the summer of 2024.
George used the extended summer sabbatical to recuperate from a slew of injuries that blighted last season. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in July for an injury suffered during a practice session.
He had returned to full 5-on-5 practice on Oct. 16, but his final ramp-up was laborious. Doctors last week said they wanted to see more strengthening in his quadriceps before final clearance. Even 90 minutes before tipoff, Sixers coach Nick Nurse still used the term “if” liberally in discussing his possible participation.
“I think he’s looked pretty good,” Nurse said. “He’s been moving great out there. I’m always talking about get the conditioning in and get up and down. Take what comes offensively. And I always like the way he plays defense. He’s just a good, instinctual defensive player.”
Nurse said George would be on a minutes restriction, without divulging what that is, likely in the neighborhood of 20 or so to start.
George hit his first 3-point attempt and bagged two rebounds in his first minute, part of a 5½-minute opening stint. He scored the 76ers’ first five points, which the Clippers then answered with 14 straight.
George was aggressive offensively early on, attempting four field goals, three from 3-point range, plus one in which he was fouled. Part of that is the necessity of replacing the production from Kelly Oubre, who was diagnosed with a left knee ligament sprain from Friday’s game against Detroit.
Nurse had no update on Oubre on Monday, saying he’s still being evaluated.
Without Oubre, the offensive burden falls even more heavily on Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, both of whom have already shouldered a lot.
Nurse is wary of the long-term ramifications of overreliance on that backcourt duo.
“We don’t know when it’s going to come,” Nurse said of scoring offensive help. “Get ready to go out there and do whatever is necessary. And they’re both on board. Whenever any of these guys come back to help us, we’re going to welcome them with open arms. But until that point, let’s stay focused on doing what needs to be done.”
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Nurse had no update on Joel Embiid, who missed his fourth straight game with right knee soreness, which the club is now calling injury management. That had been the designation on his surgically repaired left knee.
“He’s OK, I would say,” Nurse said. “Just not quite pain-free. He’s still day-to-day. I think it’s getting better, and I don’t think he’s far away from playing.”
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With George back, the 76ers have a chance to assemble lineups of a different character than the guard-heavy rotation of recent weeks. The surplus is now at the four spot.
Trendon Watford went to the bench after starting the last four games. Dominick Barlow started next to Andre Drummond.
The 76ers are down to two healthy centers, missing Embiid and Adem Bona (right ankle sprain). That leaves Barlow among the options to spell Drummond at center, though the expectation Monday was for Drummond to matchup with the Clippers’ 7-foot Ivica Zubac as much as possible.
Johni Broome, the rookie who has played a total of six minutes, is an option at center.
“They’re all options tonight,” Nurse said. “I’m not quite sure how it’s going to unfold, but they are all options. I think we got our hands full with Zubac, first and foremost.”
The 76ers finished out the first quarter with a lineup lacking a true center, Jabari Walker and Watford the ostensible defenders against Clippers’ backup pivot Brook Lopez.
Source: Berkshire mont