CHICAGO — Paul George’s inaugural season with the 76ers has been marred by numerous injuries, and things don’t appear to be easing up.
This is far from what the nine-time All-Star and the Sixers expected when he signed a four-year, $211.5 million free-agent contract in July.
On Saturday, George banged up his left little finger when he jammed it in the first half of a 109-97 victory over the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. The forward, who missed the second half, was scheduled to have an MRI on Sunday.
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The 34-year-old has already missed 14 games because of separate left knee hyperextensions and bone bruises, along with left groin tightness and load management.
George’s latest injury came one game after he posted a team-high 30 points Friday in a 132-129 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers. It was the 15th-year veteran’s third 30-plus-point performance of the season.
“You feel bad for him,” Tyrese Maxey said, “especially because now you think he’s finding his rhythm, kind of finding his niche where he fits in with the offense with Joe [Joel Embiid] and without Joe. And that kind of [stinks]. … Praying for him. And you know, I don’t really know what happened yet. So whatever it is, I’ll see and just pray for him.”
George is averaging 17.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.7 steals. He’s shooting 42.9% from the field, including 36.5% on three-pointers. However, he has averaged 21.0 points on 48.0% shooting — including making 46.7% of his three-pointers — in his last six games.
“I feel better and better as the games come along,” George said Friday about building chemistry with Maxey, who had 29 points vs. Cleveland. “It just comes down to games played, to be honest … starting to find a rhythm and just understanding of each other, and I think that’s kind of where we’ve gotten to.”
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However, George has struggled to find an offensive groove in the 13 games that Embiid played this season. He has averaged 14.1 points on 38.3% shooting while making just 25 of 83 three-pointers (30.1%) in those games.
On assignment
Second-year forward Ricky Council IV was assigned to the Sixers’ G League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats, who hosted the Greensboro Swarm on Sunday at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington. Council finished with 29 points and eight rebounds in the Blue Coats’ 111-102 victory before being recalled. He is averaging 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 14.3 minutes in 36 appearances with the Sixers.
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