Paul George to miss more time after hyperextending knee vs Grizzlies

Paul George’s MRI results are in, and while there’s no structural damage to his left knee, the Sixers’ star will miss at least the next two games with a bone bruise.

The injury, which happened early in the third quarter of Wednesday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, came as George hyperextended his knee while pursuing a defensive rebound.

He immediately signaled for a substitution and didn’t return, though Nick Nurse mentioned postgame that George was nearly cleared to re-enter.

Paul George hyperextends knee vs Grizzlies:

It’s time to retire Paul George. pic.twitter.com/gbr5XDsLgc

— Nohxxps (@NoHxxps) November 21, 2024

George also sat out Friday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets, a game the Sixers finally won in regulation.

76ers snap 5-game losing streak, beat the Nets 113-98

Nurse downplayed the severity of the issue, and with no structural damage, the hope is George will return to action within a week. Still, the Sixers are likely to be cautious, especially since George missed the start of the season with a similar injury to the same knee.

The timing couldn’t be more frustrating for Philadelphia, as Wednesday marked the debut of the team’s much-anticipated new “big three” lineup.

Tyrese Maxey returned from a hamstring injury, joining Joel Embiid and George on the court for the first time. That combination lasted all of six minutes before George went down.

Despite the setback, the Sixers are breathing a sigh of relief that the injury isn’t worse.

With George expected back soon, the team can hope to finally get an extended look at their core trio working together—something they’ll need to solidify before playoff aspirations can truly come into focus. For now, it’s about managing health, building chemistry, and hoping the next debut doesn’t end as abruptly.

Join The Chase