Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey remains out with concussion, will not play vs. Pelicans
The Sixers All-Star guard will miss his third straight game on Friday after suffering a concussion against the Mavericks.
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Tyrese Maxey has officially been ruled out for Friday’s 76ers matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, the third consecutive game the All-Star point guard will miss with a concussion.
Maxey, though, has begun progressing through concussion protocol, after initially taking a a blow to the back of the head Sunday during a victory at the Dallas Mavericks. Coach Nick Nurse said prior to Friday’s game that Maxey was scheduled for a workout that evening, and Maxey was inside the Sixers’ locker room during the pregame period that was open to the media.
“[The workout] should get him past another step,” Nurse said. “And then if all goes well, he’ll keep on chugging tomorrow and hopefully be ready to go [for Sunday’s game at the New York Knicks].”
Forward/center Nico Batum, meanwhile, was a late scratch for Friday’s game with left foot soreness.
» READ MORE: With Tyrese Maxey’s concussion, the Sixers are creeping closer to the point of no return
Veteran point guard Kyle Lowry, who missed the loss Wednesday to the Memphis Grizzlies to rest on the second night of a back-to-back, is not listed on the injury report. His return would provide a boost to a backcourt group that was shorthanded against the Grizzlies, with newcomers Cameron Payne and Jeff Dowtin Jr. as the primary ballhandlers. De’Anthony Melton remains out with a spine problem that was aggravated during last week’s loss at the Boston Celtics.
Maxey is averaging a career-high 26 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while becoming a first-time All-Star this season. He has been the Sixers’ top offensive option during reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid’s extended absence following knee surgery, and has perhaps most been missed when the Sixers have blown fourth-quarter leads to the Nets and Grizzlies.
The Sixers (35-27) enter Friday’s game with a 3-5 record since the All-Star break. They are in seventh place in a tightly packed Eastern Conference, but have the same record as the sixth-place Miami Heat and are 1½ games behind the fourth-place Orlando Magic.