76ers hold Joel Embiid, Paul George out vs. Cleveland

When the Cleveland Cavaliers visit Philadelphia on Wednesday in pursuit of their 13th consecutive win to start the season, Joel Embiid and Paul George won’t be available for the 76ers due to “left knee injury maintenance.”

The 76ers, off to a 2-8 start, are also missing a third All-Star, point guard Tyrese Maxey, due to a hamstring injury.

Embiid and George, signed as a free agent in the offseason, played together for the first time Tuesday night in a 111-99 home loss to the New York Knicks.

After missing the season’s first nine games, Embiid played 26 minutes — on a planned minutes restriction — and was 2 of 11 from the field with 13 points, five assists and three rebounds.

Embiid said after the game he would like to play Wednesday, but the Sixers ruled him and George out on Wednesday afternoon.

Head coach Nick Nurse said Tuesday night that Embiid, 30, is still working past conditioning issues.

George, 34, played in his fifth game with the 76ers after missing the season’s first five games with a hyperextended left knee. He is likely to be held out of back-to-back games because of his injury history.

Nurse said the 76ers hope to have more information about Maxey’s possible return date by the end of the week. He began on-court work but continues to work through the rehabilitation process.

–Field Level Media