ATLANTA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers' prized free-agent acquisition Paul George left Monday's preseason game against Atlanta with a hyperextended left knee.
There was no immediate update how much time George might miss following his injury. A nine-time All-Star, George's knee buckled on a defensive play in the second quarter. He scored eight points in 12 minutes in a 104-89 victory.
“I felt that it hyperextended, and immediately it was, all right, I need to get taken out and (looked at), but if you ask me, I’m not too concerned about it,” George told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
76ers coach Nick Nurse said the 34-year-old George would be examined on Tuesday.
“You never want anything to happen to anybody,” Nurse said. “Certainly, just kind of trying to work him into things. He wants to work into things, too. This doesn't give us a chance to do that. Hopefully it'll be OK so he's back with us right away.”
The Sixers have been cautious with their star players and shut down center Joel Embiid on Sunday for the rest of the preseason for what the team called left knee management.
The 76ers — who signed George to a four-year, $212 million contract as a free agent this summer — are his fourth team, after seven years with Indiana, two with Oklahoma City and the last five as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s a six-time All-NBA selection and has averaged 20.8 points over first 14 NBA seasons.
With George joining the 2023 NBA MVP in Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers were expected to boast one of the most formidable trios in the league as they try to put together a nucleus that can compete with NBA champion Boston.
George played 76 games last season, the first time he played more than 56 since 2018-19.
The Sixers aren’t expecting George and Embiid to push 75 games during the regular season.
Embiid has never been healthy for an entire postseason run, one reason the Sixers have stumbled in the postseason on his watch and a pretty big blight -- fair or not -- on his legacy. If the Sixers can’t keep George and Embiid in one piece come April, another empty season could be on tap.
George made 8 of 15 shots and scored a team-high 23 points last week in his preseason debut against Minnesota.
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Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) looks to drive around Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) drives to the basket past Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto homered during New York's three-run third inning, Carlos Rodón got his first postseason win and the Yankees took advantage of Cleveland's wildness in a 5-2 victory on Monday night in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series.
Cleveland became the second team to throw a pair of run-scoring wild pitches in a postseason inning and tied a postseason record with five overall. Guardians pitchers walked six in a nine-batter span and nine overall.
Giancarlo Stanton added his 13th career postseason homer for the Yankees, who are seeking a record 41st AL pennant. New York batters have walked 36 times in five postseason games.
Rodón rebounded from the Yankees’ only loss in the Division Series, limiting the Guardians to a pair of singles before Brayan Rocchio’s sixth-inning homer.
Steven Kwan pulled the Guardians within three runs when he extended his postseason hitting streak to a team-record 11 games with an RBI single in the eighth off Clay Holmes.
Luke Weaver entered with runners at the corners. He struck out pinch-hitter Will Brennan and retired José Ramírez on a groundout, and then followed a leadoff walk in the ninth with three straight strikeouts for his fourth save this postseason.
Game 2 is at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. Entering this year, teams taking the opener of a series with a 2-3-2 format have won 66 of 99 times.
Before a sellout crowd of 47,264 that included pop star Taylor Swift, Soto hit his first postseason homer for New York when he drove a high slider from Alex Cobb into the Yankees' bullpen in right-center.
Making his first playoff appearance in 11 years, Cobb walked the bases loaded in the third and rookie reliever Joey Cantillo threw a pair of run-scoring wild pitches. Cobb was removed because of hip tightness and a back spasm.
Cantillo had four wild pitches overall, one shy of the record for a postseason game set by Rick Ankiel of St. Louis in a 2000 NL Division Series opener against Atlanta. The only other time a team scored twice on wild pitches in a postseason inning was by Minnesota against Oakland in the 2002 AL Division Series.
Rodón struck out nine and walked none, getting 25 misses among 53 swings, matching the fourth-most misses in a postseason game since pitch-tracking began in 2008. His pitches broke so much that catcher Austin Wells had to throw to first three times on strikeouts for the putouts.
Cobb dropped in 0-2 in the playoffs, making just his fifth start in a season limited by injuries. He threw 36 of 65 pitches for strikes, getting only one swing and miss, and allowed three runs, five hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: LHP Nestor Cortes (flexor strain in pitching elbow) is to throw a second bullpen session Wednesday and is a possibility for the World Series roster, should the Yankees advance.
UP NEXT
Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole makes his third postseason start on Wednesday after beating Kansas City in the Division Series clincher. He is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA this postseason. RHP Tanner Bibee starts for the Guardians. He had a 2.08 ERA without a decision in a pair of Division Series starts against Detroit. Bibee has pitched once at Yankee Stadium, his second big league outing in May 2023. He allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision, giving up Anthony Volpe’s opposite-field homer over the right field short porch.
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Travis Kelce, top right, and Taylor Swift watch Game 1 of the baseball AL Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez reacts after grounding out against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning in Game 1 of the baseball AL Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo Vásquez)
New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the seventh inning in Game 1 of the baseball AL Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo Vásquez )
New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton, center, hits a home run off Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Erik Sabrowski (62) during the seventh inning in Game 1 of the baseball AL Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton watches his home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the seventh inning in Game 1 of the baseball AL Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto, left, celebrates with Alex Verdugo (24) after scoring on a wild pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the third inning in Game 1 of the baseball AL Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo Vásquez)
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge scores on a wild pitch by Cleveland Guardians pitcher Joey Cantillo during the third inning in Game 1 of the baseball AL Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Joey Cantillo adjusts his cap after walking New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres during the fourth inning in Game 1 of the baseball AL Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo Vásquez)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Alex Cobb reacts after giving up a home run to New York Yankees' Juan Soto during the third inning in Game 1 of the baseball AL Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto celebrates after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the third inning in Game 1 of the baseball AL Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
