The Philadelphia 76ers’ long-awaited debut of their star trio turned into yet another setback in what’s becoming an increasingly frustrating season.
Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey finally shared the court, but their collective presence proved short-lived.
George exited early in the second half of a 117-111 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies after injuring his left knee.
His absence reportedly will now extend to at least the next two games.
“Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George has a bone bruise in his left knee and is listed out for the next two games. He will be re-evaluated on Monday,” ESPN insider Shams Charania wrote on X.
Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George has a bone bruise in his left knee and is listed out for the next two games. He will be re-evaluated on Monday. pic.twitter.com/vxKeON5z78
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 21, 2024
The injury affects the same knee that sidelined him during the preseason and forced him to miss the first five games of the regular season.
Though an MRI revealed no structural damage, offering a glimmer of hope, George will miss upcoming home matchups against the Brooklyn Nets and a potentially emotional face-off with his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers.
This latest setback epitomizes the 76ers’ nightmarish start to what was supposed to be a promising campaign.
Currently languishing at 2-12 and at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia bears little resemblance to the championship contender it envisioned after acquiring George in a headline-grabbing trade.
The season has been marred by a cascade of disruptions as Embiid’s early absence for knee management coincided with George’s initial knee troubles.
The drama intensified when Embiid earned a suspension for an altercation with a media member over injury-related criticism.
Meanwhile, Maxey’s hamstring issues only complicated matters further.
The first on-court appearance of the trio, which ended in yet another defeat, perfectly encapsulates the 76ers’ current predicament.
