Paul George has suffered a second knee hyperextension this season, this time during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
This injury follows an earlier hyperextended left knee during the preseason, which had already delayed his regular-season debut until November 4.
George, who was in the starting lineup alongside Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, played just 16 minutes before leaving the game. He had recorded only two points when his knee stiffened up, forcing him to sit out for the remainder of the contest.
The Philadelphia 76ers’ medical staff ruled him out after evaluating the situation, though head coach Nick Nurse shared that there was no indication of structural damage.
Despite George’s absence, the 76ers were already struggling on both ends of the floor. The Grizzlies, led by Jaren Jackson Jr.’s 25 points and Desmond Bane’s 21 points and 10 rebounds, secured a 117-111 victory.
Memphis set a new season-high with 19 three-pointers, which contributed to their dominant performance throughout the game.
While George’s injury is concerning, it is not the first time this season he has faced issues with his knee.
The 33-year-old forward has been playing through discomfort since his preseason injury, and his most recent hyperextension has raised questions about his long-term health.
However, according to Tony Jones, Nurse believes there’s enough information to rule out significant structural damage, giving some hope that George may be able to recover quickly.
This season, George has been averaging 16.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game in 30.6 minutes of play.
