Paul George’s return to the starting lineup helps push the Sixers past the Pistons, 111-96
The win snapped a two-game skid and improved the Sixers to 4-14 as George finished with 11 points and eight rebounds
DETROIT — It was the Paul George Return Game.
The 76ers forward was back in action Saturday night against Detroit at Little Caesars Arena. And that was a good thing for his struggling team.
His presence and playmaking ability helped the Sixers post a much-needed 111-96 victory over the Pistons.
“I felt good out there,” said George, who missed the previous three games with a left knee bone bruise. “Obviously, it was an adjustment playing with a brace, but for the most part I felt good.”
» READ MORE: Sixers’ Andre Drummond exits game vs. Pistons after suffering a sprained right ankle
The win snapped a two-game skid and improved the Sixers’ record to 4-14. However, it wasn’t a completely good night.
Andre Drummond suffered a right ankle sprain just 3 minutes and 33 seconds into the game. The Sixers center was injured when he landed awkwardly after scoring a put-back basket.
Drummond appeared to bend his ankle inward before falling to the court. He remained on the floor, noticeably in pain. The 6–foot-11, 280-pounder even had his jersey partially covering his face for a moment. After being helped up, Drummond was unable to put any pressure on his ankle.
“They did all the X-rays and stuff and it is just a sprain,” coach Nick Nurse said. “There’s nothing else there. He’s going to be in a boot, yeah, I say a minute. I think I heard Simon [Rice, the Sixers’ vice president of athlete care] say something like it’s maybe not as bad as it looked. But again, it’s a screen. He’s a big guy, all that kind of stuff.”
But besides Drummond’s setback, this was a solid night for a team that has had its share of disappointing moments this season.
The Sixers went with a starting lineup of George, Guerschon Yabusele, Drummond, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Tyrese Maxey to accommodate George’s return. Rookie standout Jared McCain was moved to the bench after starting the past seven games.
“There were a couple of different ways that we could go,” Nurse said of the starting lineup. “And then obviously, we had to switch it again in the second half, because of Drum. I did like the feeling of just being bigger the other night [against the Houston Rockets]. We kind of got down to five guys and threw them out there the other night, and I like the size and rebounding of Drum and Yabu together. So that was one factor. And, obviously, Paul coming back was the other.”
George played the role of a point forward early on. The 6-8, 220-pounder provided the assists on the Sixers’ first two baskets of the game. Their offense looked smooth with him in there before intermission.
George didn’t shoot the ball well, making just 4 of 12 shots. However, he finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and one steal.
“That’s just the mindset I’m shifting to just be a playmaker,” George said. “Scoring will happen. Shots will fall. I just want to make winning plays. And I think that the way we want to do is kind of attack, create, open the floor up, and everybody makes plays for one another.”
George was able to do that by getting into the paint. He saw the Pistons’ defender collapsing a lot. And from there, it was all about finding open teammates.
Tyrese Maxey paced the Sixers with 28 points while making 5 of 10 three-pointers to go with six assists.
Reserves K.J. Martin and Ricky Council IV also had solid outings. Martin finished with a season-high 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting along with six rebounds and a career-high three blocks.
Council produced his second consecutive solid game with 17 points and five rebounds. McCain finished with seven points on 3-for-7 shooting.
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Philly built a commanding 18-point cushion in the first quarter en route to the 15-point win.
Former Sixer Tobias Harris scored four points on 1-for-8 shooting in 23 minutes. Malik Beasley paced the Pistons (9-13) with 19 points. Detroit was without standout point guard Cade Cunningham due to a left sacroiliac joint sprain.
Meanwhile, Drummond’s injury comes at an inopportune time for the Sixers.
Joel Embiid, the team’s starting center, has only played in four games due to left knee injury management and a three-game suspension. Meanwhile, the Sixers were also down forward Caleb Martin (upper back soreness) and guards Kyle Lowry (sprained right hip) and Reggie Jackson (right knee soreness).
“It’s tough,” Nurse said. “It seems like every time we play somebody goes down. “But at least we got one back, right? One in and one out tonight, right? Break it even tonight. So hopefully, we can turn the tide and go on the positive here pretty soon.”