CAMDEN, N.J. — Joel Embiid and Paul George both participated in most of 76ers practice Wednesday, George taking part in live play for the first time since July knee surgery.
Embiid was a partial participant Tuesday, after which coach Nick Nurse didn’t rule out the possibility of the center playing in Friday’s preseason finale against Minnesota. Embiid played full-court 5-on-5 Sunday at the Blue X White Scrimmage in Wilmington.
George got his first looks at full-court 3-on-3 Wednesday, and Nurse said the veteran came out of it well.
“I thought he looked really good,” Nurse said. “For live practice one and the pace and the way it was going, I think it was a challenge, conditioning-wise. But he looked good, played through it.
“You still see this incredible shot maker. And I think he was moving very well. He didn’t seem tentative to me, for a guy in the first practice back with live action. So I think they were all positive steps.”
Both George and Embiid were involved in a long segment at the beginning of practice that involved situation installs. Nurse described it as stepping behind the foundational aspects at both ends of the court.
The 76ers open the season next Wednesday in Boston.
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Nurse said he doesn’t yet have a plan for who will see what action against Minnesota. But he offered a sketch of the idea.
“I think as much as we can get the groups that we want to play together and the rotations that we want to play, as many minutes as we can push that out, I think that’s what we’d be looking to do,” Nurse said. “I don’t know what that is at all yet.”
Among the question marks is Quentin Grimes, who Tuesday declared he’s expecting to play Friday. Nurse said he’ll craft a plan for what the guard can do. Grimes was delayed in starting camp by a contract saga that didn’t end until Oct. 1.
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The 76ers signed MarJon Beauchamp to an Exhibit 10 deal late Tuesday.
Beauchamp was a first-round pick of the Bucks in 2022, taken No. 24 overall, a spot after the 76ers picked David Roddy. The 6-6, 199-pound forward has averaged 4.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 135 NBA games with Milwaukee, the Clippers and Knicks.
He played 35 games spread across the three teams last year, averaging 2.3 points in 4.5 minutes per contest. He was waived last week by Portland.
“I feel like I bring good energy, my length, athleticism,” Beauchamp said. “I can shoot the ball, run out in transition and just play fast. I’ve been watching them a little bit in the preseason and how fast they’re playing, and I just love how they play.”
Beauchamp is a career 35.4 percent 3-point shooter. With a wingspan of just over 7 feet, he fits the template of athletic three-and-D wings Nurse likes.
To make room, the 76ers requested waivers on Emoni Bates.