Sixers shooting guard Tyrese Maxey could return as early as Friday against the Pelicans

WASHINGTON — Tyrese Maxey is expected to be back with the 76ers toward the end of their current four-game road trip.

A league source confirmed to The Inquirer that Maxey could play as early as Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. If not then, another source said the aim would be for the shooting guard to return Saturday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center.

The Sixers (20-12) opened their road trip with a 119-112 Christmas Day victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. They’ll visit the Washington Wizards on Tuesday before traveling to New Orleans on Wednesday.

The Sixers will practice on Thursday, which gives Maxey an opportunity to work out with teammates before playing in a game.

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Tuesday’s matchup against the Wizards (13-21) will mark the 18th consecutive game that he’ll be sidelined since fracturing his left foot against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 18.

Maxey suffered the fracture when he stepped on the foot of Bucks point guard Jevon Carter while driving to the basket shortly before halftime. The third-year veteran went to the locker room after splitting a pair of foul shots and did not return.

The Sixers will be glad to have the young standout back in the lineup.

The 22-year-old is averaging 22.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.0 steal in 15 games this season.

Louis King is the newest Sixer.

The team signed the 6-foot-7 small forward to one of its two-way contracts on Monday. The Sixers waived two-way player Saben Lee to make room. Rookie Julian Champagnie occupies the team’s other two-way deal.

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King averaged 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 18 games this season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League.

The Sixers are the third team the 23-year-old has signed a two-way deal with since going undrafted out of Oregon in 2019.

He signed two two-way contracts with the Detroit Pistons, one in July 2019 and another in Dec. 2020. After being waived on Dec. 14, 2020, he was signed to an Exhibit 10 deal with New York Knicks on Dec. 16., 2020 but was waived the next day. King joined the Knicks G-League affiliate, the West Chester Knicks, a month later.

The small forward later signed a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings on April 30, 2021 and was waived in February 2022 before finishing last season with the West Chester Knicks. He signed with the Vipers on Nov. 3.

King averaged 4.2 points and 9.7 minutes in 26 NBA appearances with the Pistons and Kings.

The Sixers signed Lee on Nov. 23. The point guard made only two appearances with the team, scoring six points in 10 minutes.

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King was a McDonald’s All-American at North Jersey’s Hudson Catholic High in 2018. He averaged 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds and was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team during his lone season at Oregon.

The Sixers ranked second in the league in three-point percentage at .386 behind the Denver Nuggets (.388). Philly is also tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for third in steals (8.5 per game) and rank fifth in free-throw percentage (.818).