Sixers Notes: Brown hopeful MCW will return to practice this week

NEW YORK - The 76ers probably have an idea when Michael Carter-Williams is going to return the lineup. But they are using every allowable minute to keep outsiders in the dark.

The rookie point guard did not play in Monday night's game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center. It was the seventh consecutive game Carter-Williams has missed because of a skin infection and soreness to the front of his right knee.

Carter-Williams had an ice pack on his right knee after the Monday morning shootaround, which he did not participate in. Carter-Williams has not practiced or played since the Sixers' 126-125 victory over Orlando on Dec. 3.

"We are going to get him back into different things this week," Brown said. "We've got an interesting week in the NBA schedule where we play Brooklyn [Monday night]. Then you've got some time [off.] Then you play Brooklyn, again [on Friday]. We already sort of earmarked this period, as a way we can introduce him back into the mix. His fitness will have taken a hit."

Brown was asked if the Sixers had an exact day in mind, perhaps even Wednesday, for Carter-Williams to resume practicing.

"Maybe," he said. "I do feel comfortable that it is going to happen this week. That is not confirmed. But my guess is that it is going to begin to happen this week."

Rookie center Nerlens Noel was asked by Sirius XM NBA Radio if there's a possibility that he'll play this season. "There's a possibility," he said.

However, it's widely believed that Noel will sit out the entire season as he recovers from knee surgery.