Paul George of Philadelphia 76ers (Image via Getty) Paul George will not play tonight when the Philadelphia 76ers face the New Orleans Pelicans. The veteran forward has been ruled out as he begins serving a 25-game suspension issued by the NBA, which takes effect immediately.The absence comes at a difficult point in the season for Philadelphia. With the standings in the Eastern Conference tightly packed, losing a key rotation player for an extended stretch forces the team to adjust quickly, starting with this home game against New Orleans.
Why is Paul George ruled out vs New Orleans Pelicans (January 31, 2026)
Paul George is officially listed as “Out – League Suspension” on the January 31 status report. This confirms he will miss the game against the New Orleans Pelicans, which marks the first contest of his suspension.The penalty was handed down by the NBA after determining that George violated the league’s anti-drug program. The suspension is without pay and applies to 25 consecutive games.
What led to Paul George’s suspension
The league announced the decision on January 31. As is standard under the collective bargaining agreement, the NBA did not release details about the substance involved. George addressed the situation by saying he made a mistake while dealing with a personal matter. He explained that he took improper medication while seeking treatment related to his mental health and general well-being. Despite that explanation, the league enforced the full suspension under its rules.
When Paul George can return for the Philadelphia 76ers
George’s suspension begins with the Pelicans game and runs through most of the remaining regular season. He is expected to be eligible to return on March 25, when Philadelphia 76ers host the Chicago Bulls.At that point, the Sixers are projected to have about 10 regular-season games left, leaving limited time for George to make an impact before the playoffs.
Impact on the Sixers’ lineup
Philadelphia is already dealing with limited depth on the wing. Kelly Oubre Jr. is listed as probable with a right-ankle sprain, making his availability uncertain.With George out, more responsibility shifts to Tyrese Maxey, rookie Jared McCain, and other perimeter players off the bench. Defensively, the Sixers lose a reliable option against a New Orleans team led by Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum.
Paul George’s season so far
Before the suspension, George had played in 27 games this season. He was averaging around 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting 38.2 percent from three-point range on 2.4 makes per game.While those numbers were not at the top end of his career, his shooting and defensive presence were important parts of Philadelphia’s rotation.
Why the timing matters
Philadelphia entered this game around sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a record close to 26–21. With several teams bunched closely together, every win matters for playoff seeding.George’s absence for 25 games means he will miss most of the stretch that determines positioning, placing added pressure on the rest of the roster to stay afloat.
Context of his time in Philadelphia 76ers
The suspension adds to an uneven run for George since joining the Sixers. After signing a four-year, $212 million contract in 2024, his first season was disrupted by knee and adductor injuries that limited him to 41 games and led to a noticeable drop in production.This season showed signs of improvement, including a 32-point performance with nine three-pointers against Milwaukee. That progress is now on hold until late March.
Fantasy and betting outlook
For fantasy basketball managers, George is unlikely to provide value until his return and is a drop in most formats. Even then, his workload will need to be monitored. From a betting standpoint, odds and projections for Philadelphia have already shifted to reflect the loss of George’s perimeter scoring and defense.Also read: New Orleans Pelicans vs Philadelphia 76ers injury report: Who’s playing, injured and questionable players, head-to-head records, team stats, and more (January 31, 2026)Paul George is not playing tonight against the Pelicans, and he will not be available again until late March. For the 76ers, the focus now turns to managing a long stretch without one of their most experienced players while trying to stay in the playoff picture.