Sixers injury update: Embiid, George, more practice ahead of B2B

Sixers
Jan 24, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (L) reacts with injured Joel Embiid (R) after a victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

CAMDEN—The Philadelphia 76ers took to their practice court following a crushing loss against the Boston Celtics, which saw them blow a 26-point lead. Following practice, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse addressed the media, providing the first fully positive update in recent memory.

Amidst injuries to Joel Embiid, Paul George, Caleb Martin, KJ Martin, Andre Drummond, and Eric Gordon, the Sixers have had to roll out thinner and thinner rotations, seemingly as the year has continued. That time appears to be coming to an end based on Nick Nurse’s comments post-practice.

Embiid
Jan 4, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks back during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

“Everybody except (Jared) McCain practiced today,” Nurse said. “Wait to see how they all come out of it. See what the prognosis is for tomorrow.”

Simple, succinct, and surprisingly positive.

More should be known as early as tonight and as late as tip-off tomorrow — always a great window — but it seems that several Sixers may truly be on their way back.

The Sixers will return to their home court tomorrow, beginning yet another back-to-back—first facing the new-look Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday and then potentially new-look Miami Heat on Wednesday. Considering the injury history of many of these players, the injury track record of this season, and the general narrative around back-to-backs and specific players like Embiid, there are obviously some added complications to the situation, but there remains the possibility of a return for some.

Sixers
Dec 28, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Paul George (8) react to a play against the Utah Jazz during the fourth quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

“Probably,” Nurse said of the potential return of one or more Sixers. “I’m gonna see where we are, but at the start of the day, at the end of today or early tomorrow. And then again, I’m gonna concentrate on tomorrow’s game, and I’m sure after tomorrow’s game, we’re gonna have to evaluate it again, and the next morning, we have to evaluate it again, and then see what we got and go play.”

It doesn’t elicit the most excitement, but it does provide some semblance of hope that this team will become more normal bit by bit.