Shorthanded Sixers Face Knicks Amid Injury Woes

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Philadelphia 76ers, mired in a three-game losing streak, will face the New York Knicks on Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST, but the Sixers will be without several key players, including Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond, and Kyle Lowry.

Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, initially listed as questionable, have been cleared to play. Maxey missed the previous game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a left hand sprain, while George sat out with right ankle soreness. Despite their availability, the Sixers remain significantly shorthanded.

The team’s injury woes deepened earlier this week when George, who was initially labeled as probable, was downgraded to out for the Thunder game. According to the NBA injury report, George has been dealing with ankle soreness, a setback after overcoming multiple knee injuries earlier in the season. Since December, George has missed only two games, including last week’s matchup against the Washington Wizards, which the Sixers won by six points.

In his recent performances, George has shown flashes of his All-Star form. Against the New Orleans Pelicans, he scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, followed by another 25-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Orlando Magic. However, his foul-out in crunch time contributed to the Sixers’ five-point loss to Orlando.

This season, George is averaging 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists per game, shooting 42% from the field and 35% from three-point range. His absence, along with that of Embiid, Drummond, and others, has left the Sixers struggling to find consistency. The team currently holds a 15-22 record, a stark contrast to the Thunder’s 32-6 mark.

The Sixers’ injury report also includes Caleb Martin, KJ Martin, and rookie Jared McCain, further depleting their roster. With limited options, head coach Nick Nurse will need to rely heavily on Maxey and George to keep the team competitive against a surging Knicks squad.

As the Sixers look to snap their losing streak, the spotlight will be on Maxey and George to carry the load. However, with a depleted lineup and a challenging schedule ahead, the road to recovery remains uncertain for the struggling franchise.