The Philadelphia 76ers lost Paul George for 25 games due to a drug suspension. His strong return Wednesday night showed there may be some benefits to his forced eight-week absence.
George scored 28 points in 26 minutes in the Sixers’ 157-137 win over the Chicago Bulls, adding four steals, six rebounds and four assists. The well-rested George delivered one of his best games in two disappointing seasons in Philadelphia and provides hope for the team’s playoff chances.
Philadelphia 76ers’ beat-up veterans returned against Bulls
George returned from suspension and center Joel Embiid returned from missing 13 games with an oblique strain against the Bulls. Embiid put up 35 points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes, making all three of his three-point attempts.
When the Sixers signed George to a massive four-year deal in 2024, they thought they’d assembled a title contender with the nine-time All-Star joining Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey. Then injuries limited Embiid to just 19 games and George to 41 as the 76ers finished with a 24-58 record.
The Sixers tried to protect the oft-injured Embiid and the 35-year-old George by sitting them in back-to-back games and attempting load management, but both players never shook their injuries. This season, the two have still only combined for 62 games, but they may be rested up and peaking at the perfect time for Philadelphia.
Philadelphia 76ers could be dangerous in the playoffs
Wednesday’s game was a realization of the Sixers’ plans in assembling a lineup of stars, aided by No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe (22 points, four three-pointers), who they got thanks to their miserable 2024-25 season. Embiid has been awesome when he’s on the floor, averaging 26.9 points, but he’s struggled to get past nagging injuries.
The 35-year-old George may be in a similar position. His body hasn’t been able to hold up for the 82-game season, but his unexpected two-month sabbatical may have kept his fragile body fresh. Now they’re both well-rested and healthy, at least temporarily, three weeks before the playoffs begin.
If they can climb past the Atlanta Hawks into sixth place, the team will also get five days of rest between the regular season and the playoffs. In a wide-open Eastern Conference, that extra rest could be huge.
The 76ers may not be built for the regular season. But they only need to stay healthy for a few weeks to make some serious noise in the playoffs.