The 76ers have defied all odds with an impressive start to the season, but inside the team’s practice facility Sunday, there was a sense of concern regarding Kelly Oubre Jr.
The small forward’s long-term availability remains uncertain after the team said he injured the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee Friday in a loss to the Detroit Pistons. Oubre underwent medical imaging this weekend and will meet with a specialist to determine the extent of the injury.
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For now, the only thing the Sixers (7-5) are sure of is that he will miss Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Meanwhile, Paul George could make his season debut against the Clippers.
The forward is listed as questionable with surgical recovery on his left knee.
Joel Embiid will miss his fourth consecutive game. This will be the third game he has missed due to right knee soreness. The 2023 MVP also missed the Nov. 8 home loss to the Pistons to rest his surgically repaired left knee.
And reserve center Adem Bona will be out for the next three games with a sprained right ankle. He will be re-evaluated Friday, the team said.
But it’s a good thing George can return, considering uncertainty surrounding Oubre’s injury was the main topic after Sunday’s practice.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the recovery time for a grade 1 (mild) sprain is three to four weeks. A grade 2 sprain has a recovery time of four to eight weeks, while a grade 3 sprain has a recovery time of eight to 12 weeks or more. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the ligament.
“We have to do a little evaluation here. So hopefully it won’t be too serious, but he’s definitely having a career year,” coach Nick Nurse said of Oubre after practice. “And he does a lot of little things that don’t show up in the numbers either, so we just have to take a hard look and see who’s connecting in all those little areas.
“But yeah, he loves playing, he loves being out there. He’s super disappointed. Obviously he’s playing great. So let’s just hope it won’t be too long. He’s been great this year.”
The 6-foot-8, 203-pounder is averaging 16.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals while logging a career-high 34.8 minutes. Oubre is shooting 34.8% from three-point range and regularly guards the opposing team’s best perimeter player.
He was injured late in the first half of a 114-105 loss to Detroit at Little Caesars Arena. He remained in the game until intermission but did not leave the locker room after halftime. Quentin Grimes replaced him in the lineup at the start of the second half.
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“You know we have to stay connected. That’s the main thing when a man goes down,” VJ Edgecombe said. “You know, stay tuned and do our best. Obviously, Kelly is his own player, has his own style of play, and none of us can imitate that. But we can just try to do our best to do all the little things that he provides, you know, on defense and scoring the ball.”
Meanwhile, George looked great during post-practice drills on Sunday. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound player wore the blue practice jersey, usually worn by starters and key reserves, when the media was allowed into the gym. George had previously worn the gray jersey which designates second unit and non-rotation players.
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When asked what was the deciding factor in George’s return, the nurse replied, “Doctors.”
Does he have another doctor’s appointment coming up?
“That I don’t know,” said the nurse.
George is waiting for doctors’ permission to return. The nurse said the medical staff must ensure that strength is present in his quadriceps.
The 35-year-old man underwent an arthroscopy of his left knee on July 14.
He also only played in 41 games last season due to various injuries.
Those injuries caused George to struggle to create separation last season and averaged just 16.2 points, the fourth-lowest average in his 15-year NBA career. He also finished with his third-lowest three-point percentage (35.8%).
