Maxey cleared to shoot, run; Rivers feels Sixers ‘treading water’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Tyrese Maxey was in his happy place Wednesday.
Though Maxey’s return from a left foot fracture he suffered on Nov. 19 is not imminent, he was present on the floor after the Sixers’ practice in Camden, New Jersey. He dribbled a ball and was a smiley spectator as Jaden Springer ran through competitive drills with Sixers coaches.
According to head coach Doc Rivers, Maxey was cleared to start shooting two days ago and allowed to run up and down the floor Wednesday. The 22-year-old has yet to progress to sprinting or jumping.
Thus far, it appears his rehab has gone as expected. Rivers called Maxey “a ways away” but didn’t offer a specific timeline.
“He’s been going nuts — stir-crazy is a better word,” Rivers said. “Calling us, FaceTiming us. ‘I don’t know what to do.’ Sit at home and watch TV; I don’t know what to tell you. But at least today, he was so happy because he was shooting. He hasn’t been able to touch a ball, which for him … he’s young. He probably has never done this.”
Rivers highlighted that Maxey is not the only Sixer dealing with an injury. In fact, he said he thought the team only had seven players available to practice, which led him to focus on film.
“Just bumps,” Rivers said. “And then Danuel House had something done with his foot. He’ll be fine. I can’t even think of (them all), but it was a lot of guys.”
Georges Niang’s injury sounded perhaps more significant than a typical “bump.” Rivers described Niang, who missed Monday’s double-overtime loss to the Rockets with right foot soreness, as “out.” He put up shots after practice but didn’t seem to place any serious stress on the foot.
P.J. Tucker played a season-high 42 minutes against the Rockets. He’s the one Sixer to have played in all of the team’s games. The 37-year-old once had a 267-game ironman streak with the Rockets.
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“Yeah, it’s what I do,” Tucker said with a chuckle. “I play. You go through regular-season injuries, little things here and there, but…
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