The Philadelphia 76ers will be without LeBron James on Saturday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, with the veteran forward officially ruled out because of low back/sciatica management.
Before the game, head coach Nick Nurse gave a reassuring read on where James stands. According to Kris Rhim of ESPN, “Nick Nurse said that LeBron James hasn’t expressed any pain or discomfort and that they are ‘not worried' about him moving forward,” Rhim reported.
James had entered the matchup listed as questionable, but Philadelphia is clearly taking the cautious route. The team’s bigger picture is simple: keep him available for the postseason. Updates on LeBron James' injury status will continue to be monitored and provided as they are made available.
Even with the missed game, James has been off to a strong start with Philadelphia. The 76ers are 2-0, and he is averaging 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists per outing. He may not be the same player he once was, but he remains capable of swinging a game in a major way.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, comes in at 0-2 in the new campaign. The Bucks also entered a new era after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo during the offseason, with Giannis starting a new chapter in Miami. That backdrop adds another layer to what should still be a compelling Eastern Conference matchup.
The Bucks will try to protect home floor and pull off the upset when these two teams meet Saturday night. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM ET.
In Other News...
Sixers Already Look Deeper Than Fans Expected After 3-0 Start
Three games into the season, the Sixers are already showing a rotation that looks deeper than plenty of people expected, and Fridays 127-116 win over the Bucks only added to that impression. Joel Embiid powered the night with his 10th career regular-season triple-double, finishing with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as Philadelphia kept rolling at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The other part that stood out was how many different names factored into the win, with Dean Wade making his debut in place of LeBron James, who was out because of low back and sciatica management. Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey were among the key contributors as the Sixers continued to build early-season momentum, and the next question is how this mix holds up once the schedule tightens and the lineup gets tested more seriously. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Brown Keeps Sixers Fans Watching This Celtics Drama
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Brown also pointed to Tatums public relations team and stopped short of promising a private conversation, which only adds to the intrigue. The two have offered different versions of how much Tatum knew about Browns move from Boston to Philadelphia, and with neither side laying out the full story, this one continues to linger as background noise for Sixers followers keeping tabs on the Celtics drama. [Read more 🡒]
LeBron's Early 76ers Absence Creates A Bigger Question For Philly
LeBron James will not be on the floor for the 76ers in Philadelphia, and the absence is being handled as a planned workload management decision rather than anything injury-related. Nick Nurse said the call was made with input from the medical staff, the front office and Jamess camp, leaving Philadelphia to navigate the matchup without one of the biggest names on the board.
For the Sixers, the immediate focus shifts to the players who are available and how they absorb the extra responsibility. Nurse pointed to Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown as the kind of presence that can help cover the missing offense, while Tacko Fall, Dominick Barlow and Ariel Hukporti are also out and Dean Wade has already been cleared after being listed as questionable. It adds another layer to a game that now has more to do with depth and adjustment than the star attraction that was supposed to headline it. [Read more 🡒]