Noel, MCW will play first Sixers game together

During his introductory news conference with the 76ers in 2013, Nerlens Noel said what many fans were thinking after that summer's draft.

"Sam [Hinkie] is a genius," Noel said. "How can you think of something like that?"

The center/power forward's reaction came after the Sixers general manager acquired him and his longtime friend Michael Carter-Williams on draft night.

The two players grew up in the Boston area and were AAU teammates.

"A lot of credit goes to him for building that as a foundation for this organization into the future," Noel said then.

Noel and Carter-Williams will play their first NBA game together Thursday night against the Mavericks in Dallas.

Noel sat out last season as he rehabilitated a left knee injury. Carter-Williams will play in his first game since last season. He underwent right shoulder surgery on May 6.

"Ever since we got drafted on draft night we've been talking about it," Noel said this week of playing together. "So it's going to be a special time. It took a while before it came. We are going to make the best of it."

Sixers fans should not expect much.

Noel is coming off a left ankle injury that sidelined him for the last two games. He has shown promise in some areas and struggled in others.

The 20-year-old rookie is shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the foul line. He had three rebounds altogether in his last two appearances.

Noel worked on several drills with shooting coach Eugene Burroughs after Tuesday's practice.

"I'm just trying to get my touch right around the basket, on quick baskets around the rim, making sure I get my shot off quicker," Noel said.

Last season's rookie of the year, Carter-Williams took part in his third full-scrimmage practice on Tuesday. Reserve guard Alexey Shved missed practice with lower-back soreness.

"I doubt if I'm going to play [Carter-Williams] big minutes for sure," said coach Brett Brown, whose team is 0-7. Brown mentioned that the 6-foot-6 point guard is coming along slowly at practice.

"He's still gifted," the coach said. "You still see how he makes us better. But he hasn't played much basketball - real basketball - in a while, and you see that."

Carter-Williams and Noel probably could not have foreseen being NBA teammates when they played AAU ball together. "I mean, what's the odds?" Noel said. "Seeing this is a blessing, and being with my boy has been great."

Carter-Williams recalled their first season together in the AAU. At the time, Noel was a 6-10, 205-pound high school sophomore without what later became his trademark flattop fade haircut. Carter-Williams was a standout junior who had committed to Syracuse.

"He moved like a deer," Carter-Williams said. "One game he had 19 blocks and I had 47 points. The stat sheet was crazy. . . . I didn't have to play any defense."

The Sixers plan to call up Robert Covington from the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA Development League. They will have to waive someone from the 15-man roster to make room for the 6-foot-9 forward, who was waived by Houston on Oct. 27.