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Carter-Williams gets needed day off

Michael Carter-Williams has been arguably the NBA's best rookie over the first two weeks of the season. But after Monday's 109-85 loss to the Spurs, the 76ers point guard is looking to bounce back from the worst night of his eight-game career.

Sixers rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams. (Charles Fox/Staff Photographer)
Sixers rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams. (Charles Fox/Staff Photographer)Read more

Michael Carter-Williams has been arguably the NBA's best rookie over the first two weeks of the season. But after Monday's 109-85 loss to the Spurs, the 76ers point guard is looking to bounce back from the worst night of his eight-game career.

To accomplish that, Carter-Williams is trying to get back into top shape, which is why he was given Tuesday's practice off.

Carter-Williams went through the film work but didn't do anything on the court. Coach Brett Brown said it was a precautionary day off.

"He has soreness in his left foot and we're trying to be smart," Brown said after Tuesday's practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. "We have a bunch of games in a short period of time."

One of those games is Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center against the 5-3 Houston Rockets, who are coming off Monday's 110-104 double-overtime win over Toronto. General manager Sam Hinkie was assistant GM in Houston before he signed on with the Sixers.

Carter-Williams will be expected to be in the lineup as he looks to shake off Monday's subpar performance against visiting San Antonio.

In 32 minutes and 31 seconds, Carter-Williams had eight points on 2-for-11 shooting. He had four assists, two turnovers, and missed his two shots from three-point range.

"I think that is the great thing about the NBA, that if you play a bad game you have one the next night or the night after," Carter-Williams said.

Carter-Williams is averaging 17.4 points, 7.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.0 turnovers in 36.6 minutes.

Entering Tuesday, Carter-Williams and Orlando's Victor Oladipo (12.1 ppg.) were the only rookies scoring in double figures.

Brown said Carter-Williams has been especially impressive in grasping what he has been taught.

"He will come back into the timeout to make sure he understands what I have drawn up and said," Brown said. "From a professional standpoint he is doing well and from a physical standpoint he is learning how to get through it."

What Carter-Williams or any rookie has to remember is to be able to forget pretty quickly. There are too many games to linger on a bad one.

"Whether you are a rookie or have been in a while, you want to put that [bad] one behind you and get that good feeling back," said Sixers forward-center Spencer Hawes, who is averaging 15.8 points and 10.8 rebounds. "After the last tough game, he bounced back well and I expect the same thing [Wednesday]."