Paul George Returns to Court for Sixers' Stretch Run
Paul George returns to the court Wednesday for the Philadelphia 76ers' game against the Chicago Bulls, following a suspension that lasted 25 games.
He was suspended on January 31 for taking "improper medication", but the ban ended with the Sixers' 123-103 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
The Sixers have struggled without George, going 13-12 in his absence, and currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
George is expected to be in the starting lineup with no minutes restriction, bringing his averages of 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists back to the court.
Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe has been holding down the fort in George's absence, making a career-high seven 3-pointers and scoring 35 points in the loss to the Thunder.
The team is looking to avoid the play-in tournament, but faces a tough challenge with only 11 games remaining, starting with the game against the Bulls, who have won the first two matchups this season.
Joel Embiid is listed as questionable for the contest, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the Sixers' lineup.
The Bulls, led by Collin Sexton and Matas Buzelis, are likely headed for the draft lottery, but are looking to win every game, regardless of their playoff chances.
Buzelis has been a key piece of the Bulls' future, averaging 21.6 points and 6.6 rebounds this month, and will look to continue his strong play against the Sixers.