Sixers, seeking to get on track with expected Paul George return, head out on a tough West Coast trip

TEMPE, Ariz. — Things are about to get real for the 76ers. And welcoming back Paul George might be a good thing.

The Sixers are hopeful the nine-time All-Star will make his team debut Monday against the Phoenix Suns. While he’s officially listed as questionable, George’s status will be determined based on how he feels following shootaround and pregame warmups.

In other words, he’s in line to play barring any setbacks. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid will remain sidelined for at least another game.

But for the Sixers, potentially having one of their two stars back is a huge bonus. After struggling against the league’s worst teams, they are embarking on what could be a doomsday road trip vs. the Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, and Lakers.

At 5-1, Phoenix is tied with the Golden State Warriors for the Western Conference’s second-best record. After the Suns, the Sixers will head to Los Angeles to face the struggling Clippers (2-4) on Wednesday. The game will serve as a homecoming for George. Not only is he a Southern California native, the 34-year-old played for the Clippers for the last five seasons. The Sixers will remain in Los Angeles to face the conference’s fourth-place Lakers (4-2) on Friday.

» READ MORE: Joel Embiid strikes, shoves Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes during locker room altercation

The hope is that Embiid (left knee injury management) will return shortly, even on this trip. However, the NBA is investigating an incident involving the 2023 MVP in the Sixers’ locker room following Saturday’s 124-107 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. The 7-foot-2, 280-pound center confronted and shoved Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes after taking exception to one of his recent columns.

Even if Embiid is healthy, one has to wonder if his availability will depend on the results of the investigation. But George, who missed the first five games with a left knee bone bruise, will take some of the pressure off Tyrese Maxey.

“We just finished practice, so recovering out of this one OK [will be a step toward returning],” coach Nick Nurse said Sunday after practice at Arizona State’s Weatherup Center. “The same for shootaround tomorrow. But, again, all signs are moving in the right direction.”

So far, the Sixers have shown that they’re not very competitive without George and Embiid.

Veteran point guard Kyle Lowry thinks the team will find its rhythm and become more connected as players continue to learn to play with one another.

“Being on the same page on the court and also trying to get the same way mentally,” Lowry said. “I think we have a very talented group. But we have to continue to get better. This is not the start we all expected and we all want, but we’re a fairly new team. We have to continue to preach patience with everything and we’ll get better.”

The Sixers did show some improvement Saturday, making a season-high 19 three-pointers and tying a season-best mark with five blocked shots.

Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points to increase his 20-point game streak to eight games dating back to April 7 of last season. It’s tied for the league’s fifth-longest active streak.

But the Sixers were dominated in most categories. In addition to that, Andre Drummond and Caleb Martin struggled.

Drummond had four points on 1-for-7 shooting to go with nine rebounds and four turnovers. Martin had nine points on 1-for-7 shooting while being a minus-26 in 27 minutes, 42 seconds.

» READ MORE: Sixers were no match for bigger and more talented Memphis Grizzlies in 124-107 loss

“The offense is a major problem,” Nurse said. “When we draw one-and-a-half or two [men], we have to move [the ball] to the next man a lot better. I think guys are trying to make plays, maybe a little too much.

“Again, I don’t ever see that as they’re being selfish in trying to get there. I think they’re trying to make a play to help. But sometimes the play is to get off it and get it moving and get it into the next action.”

The Sixers have also been out of sorts on four-on-two and three-on-two fast breaks. Instead of capitalizing on their advantages, the Sixers have committed turnovers and missed layups. And missed shots have led to giving up transition buckets at the other end.

“We’re going to miss shots,” Lowry said. “But we can’t put our heads down. We can’t let our offense control our defense and the habits we are trying to instill.”