The Sixers downgraded Paul George to out Thursday ahead of their evening meeting with the Warriors at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
George had initially been listed as questionable with a “left knee injury recovery” designation. After facing Golden State, the Sixers will conclude their back-to-back by visiting the Bucks.
Since returning from offseason arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, George has played six times. He logged 18 minutes Tuesday in the Sixers’ blowout win over the Wizards and had 11 points and five rebounds. George’s season high in minutes is 28.
“It’s getting there,” he said. “I’ve just got to get my legs under me. I just feel like my legs aren’t as strong as they need to be. … I kind of feel the training camp legs a little bit; it’s my training camp, the first couple games. … Just a little fatigued for some reason.”
The Sixers upgraded Joel Embiid (left knee injury recovery; right knee injury recovery) from doubtful to questionable. Quentin Grimes (right calf tightness) went from questionable to available.
Embiid was present at the Sixers’ morning shootaround and wore a blue practice jersey. He returned from a nine-game absence with a right knee injury Sunday and scored 18 points in the Sixers’ double-overtime defeat to the Hawks.
Warriors star Stephen Curry is out with a left quadriceps injury. Former Sixer De’Anthony Melton is slated to come back from a torn ACL and make his season debut. As of early Thursday afternoon, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford, Jonathan Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post were all listed as questionable on Golden State’s injury report.