Watford sidelined, Bona eyeing return for Sixers’ Black Friday game in Brooklyn originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers’ revolving injury door keeps swinging.
A team official said that an MRI confirmed Trendon Watford suffered a left adductor strain in the second quarter of the Sixers’ 41-point loss Tuesday to the Magic. He’ll be re-evaluated in two weeks.
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After missing the start of this season with a left hamstring injury, Watford had played in 14 consecutive games and averaged 8.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists. The highlight of his season has been a first career triple-double in the Sixers’ Nov. 8 win over the Raptors. He wasn’t too far from a second on Sunday, posting 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a loss to the Heat.
“We were just getting ready to get used to him,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Wednesday afternoon. “That he’s going to be a Swiss Army knife kind of guy that probably plays anywhere from one to four for us. I think he had a good knack of getting us some timely buckets, a good knack of setting up things for people. He can guard multiple positions. That’s a lot of stuff, right?”
Nurse had Adem Bona back at practice. The second-year big man told reporters he aims to return Friday against the Nets.
Bona’s been out the past five games because of a right ankle sprain. With Joel Embiid also sidelined by a right knee injury, the Sixers have needed to lean heavily on Andre Drummond at center.
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“I think we need that position manned by two people,” Nurse said. “And I think Drum’s done a great job, but you can see as the games stack up, it gets to be a lot for one guy. And the other guys have tried to fill in, but it just gets a little small certain nights. So that’s the biggest thing, that he can help shore up that position over 48 (minutes). We certainly need what he brings us — energy, rim protection, some shot blocking.
“You think back to what he was giving us, it was maybe not 20 minutes of amazing play, but there was always that spurt of three or four minutes that got you to the next part of the game or sparked you on a momentum run. He looked pretty good today, so hopefully things go OK and he makes it back by Friday.”
VJ Edgecombe (left calf tightness) and Paul George (right ankle sprain) also practiced. Embiid (right knee injury) had “an individual strength and conditioning session,” according to a team official.
“I would say they looked pretty good,” Nurse said of Edgecombe and George. “They did everything all the way through. Again, it wasn’t a ton of stuff coming off last night, but they did both make it through. We’ve got a couple days yet (before the Nets game), so hopefully we can get at least one — hopefully both of them — back.”
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Regardless of who’s available, the 9-8 Sixers will expect a bounce-back performance when they face the 3-14 Nets. The team’s one blowout win so far is a 24-point victory on Nov. 2 in Brooklyn.
“The amount of effort and work they’ve put in has been as high as it can be,” Nurse said. “Even though you got punched in the mouth last night — repeatedly — you’ve got to be able to come back and do it again. Keep that mindset and that process going.”
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