Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey returns from foot fracture against New Orleans Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS — Tyrese Maxey will officially return from a fractured foot in the 76ers’ game at the New Orleans Pelicans Friday night, the Sixers announced.

Maxey will come off the bench against the Pelicans and, per Doc Rivers, will not play many minutes. Though Maxey said following Thursday’s practice that he did not want to force anything upon his return, Rivers said Friday, “I want him to be Tyrese ... and get there as soon as he can.”

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“If he can turn into the same guy that had 20 points at halftime before he left, I’m fine with that,” Rivers said. “Everybody comes back differently. I think it’s difficult for guards, because I always think ballhandling is the toughest part of coming back. You can’t practice the speed that you play with.

“We just want him to be aggressive and just not overthink the game. Just come in and be himself.”

Maxey, who sustained the injury during a Nov. 18 game win over the Milwaukee Bucks, was listed as probable to play Friday on the NBA’s official injury report. He had been ramping up in recent days, including playing a “low-minute” scrimmage with non-rotation players and staff on Monday in Washington and participating in Thursday’s light practice in New Orleans.

Both the third-year guard and Rivers said following Thursday’s practice that they were hopeful Maxey would return either against the Pelicans or on Saturday night at the Oklahoma City Thunder. Maxey is unlikely to play in both games of the back-to-back set, Rivers added then.

Maxey, who is regarded as one of the NBA’s rising stars, is expected to provide a jolt to the Sixers’ offense with his explosiveness and dangerous three-point shooting. In the 15 games prior to the injury, Maxey was averaging 22.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 42.2% from beyond the arc.

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He rejoins a team playing its best basketball of the season. The Sixers recently had an eight-game winning streak snapped with a loss at the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, but have risen to fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 20-13 record entering Friday.

Maxey’s return makes the Sixers’ roster whole for the first time since an Oct. 29 win at the Chicago Bulls.