Iverson out for Celtics game Friday
Sixers guard Allen Iverson will not play in Friday's game against Boston after an MRI today revealed he had arthritis in his left knee. He also has a left shoulder contusion, the team announced. Iverson will not make the trip to Boston and is expected to be ready for Saturday night's home game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Iverson scored 16 points in 34 minutes of Wednesday's 108-101 loss at home to Cleveland. Guard Lou Williams practiced today but will not play Friday.
Iverson out for Celtics game Friday
Sixers guard Allen Iverson will not play in Friday’s game against Boston after an MRI today revealed he had arthritis in his left knee. He also has a left shoulder contusion, the team announced.
Iverson will not make the trip to Boston and is expected to be ready for Saturday night’s home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Iverson scored 16 points in 34 minutes of Wednesday's 108-101 loss at home to Cleveland. Guard Lou Williams practiced today but will not play Friday.
Here's an update from Inquirer contributor Pat Leonard from practice today:
Meanwhile, point guard Lou Williams practiced with the team at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, one day after having wires removed from a broken jaw that has caused him to miss three weeks.
Coach Eddie Jordan said there is a “slight chance” Williams could return Saturday at home against the Clippers, though he will sit out tonight's game along with Iverson, who may return Saturday, too.
“My jaw’s healed,” said Williams, who is wearing braces on his gums to complete his healing for about one more week. “Now it’s a matter of me getting in shape, being basketball ready … I think we just want to do the same thing with Allen. He was a little concerned about his conditioning.”
The results of Iverson’s MRI exam, conducted by team physician Jack McPhilemy, were announced at 1:30 p.m.
To round out the injury merry-go-round for a Sixers team that has lost 13 of its last 14 games, center Marreese Speights practiced yesterday but left early for treatment after Jordan said he banged knees with a teammate.
“He was setting a screen. I was overemphasizing setting screens, and someone runs into his knee,” Jordan said. “So hopefully it’s OK. It wasn’t like a real traumatic sort of hit or fall or twist.”
Speights played 22 minutes against Cleveland Wednesday night in his first game back from a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee that he suffered Nov. 14 against Chicago. He was expected to miss six to eight weeks but returned in less than five.
Jordan and team officials did not seem worried Speights would miss the game against Boston, though they were awaiting word from Speights and trainers as practice ended.
“We don’t think it’s serious,” Jordan said. “He was going for a precautionary evaluation and we’ll see after we get on the plane, before the game. Tomorrow we’ll know about more.”
It's too bad that AI won't be out there playing vs. the Celtics, he's been one of the few bright spots over the past 2 weeks on the floor! I wish that he played this unselfishly in his 1st stint with the Sixers because he probably would've never left! Maybe Iguodala and Young will share the ball alittle more with Allen out for this game!— BigDawgHoopz- Beginning of the end?— wearethechampions
- If Speights is just coming back from injury, why would you have him out there and "overemphasizing setting screens" with the possibility of banging knees easily occurring? I don't get Jordan. It's like some coaches try to outsmart people and in the end "outsmart" themselves. Keep it simple.— Flock
- Wow! I am shocked, shocked I say, that a 34-year-old guard who has relied on quickness and leaping ability and fearless personal willingness to bang into the bigs during his entire career has arthritis in at least one of his knees, as well as a shoulder contusion. He has played unselfishly this time around, admittedly, but his days as a star are behind him, and he might be wise to hang them up at the end of this season, rather than risk further damage to his body. These injuries may allow Jordan to go with Holiday at the point and Williams at the two, the backcourt of the future for the Sixers (although there are posters who dislike Williams for some reason). As for Speights, he seems to have the biggest knees in the pro game as they are invariably getting banged or are banging into someone else's knees, although maybe Jordan should have been focusing on defense, defense, defense, defense, rather than overemphasizing the setting of screens. Is he actually watching the games???— chuckw
- hes out one game. relax— GetMeToThePlateBoys
- If speights gets seriously injured because hes being rushed back, i cannot describe how angry i will be. What, does jordan/stefanski think we are in contention for something? Let the man heal. you dont mess around with kness, especially big mens' knees. Too bad about AI though. he impressed me by looking to distribute and not forcing too many shots. The jumper looked improved also. hopefully this wont be a nagging thing for him.— duder
- 4/12 from the field = improved— jefuuetsukusura
Comment removed.- Probably spent too much time and effort practicing.— Bob003
- 76er's owners sold a few extra seats for 4 games, when Williams comes back its time to send AI to the retirement home, fire Jordan, trade,dump,release or what ever the other AI, Brand, Sammie, and go with the young players and work hard to get the lottery lst pick.— jwatson
- Zeru77....great post. AI's talent level was so off the charts he truly could have gone down as the greatest point guard in history. He could get other players layups at will.— JonKap
- Comment removed.
- Iverson at 34 will not become a quality starting point guard in the NBA; in any event, anyone who watched Jrue Holiday last night can see he is the starting point guard for this team on his defensive skill alone. The Sixers also need to make a decision on Lou Williams who I think has an explosive first step, leaping ability, and attacks the basket (jumper needs some work); this season he is shooting 49.7 percent on 12.9 shots per game, averaging 17.4 points per game and was coming into his own offensively before he broke his jaw. He has just turned 23 and the Sixers like his game, but not at the point. Does Jordan, with Iverson's minutes restricted, start Holiday at point and Williams at two with Iguodala at three and Young at four and Speights at five? Sixers are going nowhere and Iverson is at the back end of his career; makes no sense to play him extended minutes.— chuckw
- I still think this core we have now, can be good, not this year, but in the future if they stay together. I think if anyone needs to go it is Iggy. He is very overrated and should be nothing higher than a 3rd option. If they keep trying to use him as something more than that we will continue to fail. Jordan needs to go too.— CBent1
- Zeru77 writes the truth. Iverson was a waste of great talent. He could hve been better than Isiah Thomas but he decided to play his selfish game. Now he'll limp home, retire and still not get it.— Bob1
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
