Paul George back for Sixers’ stretch run; Bulls up next
Following a lengthy suspension, Paul George returns to the court Wednesday when the Philadelphia 76ers host the Chicago Bulls.
Philadelphia (39-33) is looking to avoid the play-in tournament, but it has been a challenge playing without many of its key weapons in recent weeks. In addition to injuries to Joel Embiid (oblique) and Tyrese Maxey (finger), among others, the team has played its last 25 games without George.
The veteran forward was suspended Jan. 31 for taking "improper medication," but that ban ended with Monday's 123-103 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. George is expected to be in the starting lineup Wednesday, with no minutes restriction, for an important contest against Chicago.
The Sixers entered Tuesday in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, the first spot in the play-in tournament.
"I think they've done a decent job of hanging in there," said Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse, whose team went 13-12 without George. "I think it just shows you how fast 25 games goes in this league sometimes. It's hard to believe it's over with already."
The players certainly are excited to welcome back George, who averages 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 27 games (all starts) in 2025-26.
"It's Paul George, man," said rookie guard VJ Edgecombe. "He's elite. He's one of the smoothest players to ever touch a basketball. He's a two-way player at that, so for him to get back on the floor means a lot."
Edgecombe has been tasked with holding down the fort while George, Maxey and Embiid have been sidelined simultaneously. He made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 35 points in the loss to the Thunder and has averaged 31.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists over the last three games.
"He's got a pretty good command of the team right now," Nurse said. "As far as getting us organized, and as far as playing with great leadership, he's leading by example a lot."
Meanwhile, Collin Sexton has emerged as a leader for a Bulls team likely headed for the draft lottery. The veteran point guard supplied 25 points in Monday's 132-124 triumph over the Houston Rockets -- just Chicago's second win in the last six games.
"I wanted to bring the juice and the energy -- that's all I was thinking about these last couple (of games)," Sexton said.
Matas Buzelis chipped in with 23 points against Houston. He shot 5 of 9 from 3-point range, leading a crisp long-range performance by the Bulls, who made half of their 38 attempts from beyond the arc.
Chicago (29-42) likely faces an insurmountable climb to the play-in tournament with only 11 games remaining, but Buzelis continues to prove he's a key piece of its future.
"Win every game. Play-in or not. Playoffs or not," said Buzelis, who is averaging 21.6 points and 6.6 rebounds this month. "(We're) trying to win every game."
That mindset certainly jives with the ultra-competitive Sexton, who has contributed 16.1 points in 15 games since joining Chicago in a midseason trade with the Utah Jazz.
"Stay hungry. Stay hungry," Sexton said. "Don't worry about the summer. Continue to (take things) one game at a time, one day at a time."
This is the teams' third and final meeting this season. The Bulls have captured the first two matchups, both in Chicago.