Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Sixers' Robert Covington might miss two games with lower back contusion

Covington suffered the injury with 68 seconds left in Saturday night's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Sixers forward Robert Covington could be sidelined for two games because of a lower back contusion.
Sixers forward Robert Covington could be sidelined for two games because of a lower back contusion.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

NEW ORLEANS — Robert Covington might miss the 76ers' next two games because of a lower-back bruise.

The small forward missed Sunday night's game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. He's listed as doubtful for Tuesday night's matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.

"My suspicion is he will be out the next two games," coach Brett Brown said.

Covington suffered the injury with 68 seconds left in Saturday night's setback against the Cleveland Cavaliers when he fell into the stands while trying to save the ball. The Chicago native's lower back and upper buttocks hit a metal object near the Cavs' bench.

He remained behind the bench on his back during a Sixers timeout. Covington had to be helped off the court. Results of his CT Scan and X-rays were negative. The fifth-year veteran is dealing with back stiffness.

Reserve point guard T.J. McConnell missed his second consecutive game with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder.

Fultz back in Kentucky

Markelle Fultz is back at the Shoulder Center at Kentucky for rehabilitation under the supervision of surgeon Ben Kibler. The first overall pick in this year's NBA draft is expected to be there for a couple of days.

The Sixers announced in a statement Saturday that Fultz is no longer experiencing soreness in his right shoulder and that the imbalance in his scapular muscle has been resolved. After about three weeks, the Sixers medical staff, in conjunction with Kibler, "will gauge his readiness" to play in a game, the team said.

Kibler first diagnosed the imbalance in his muscle during Fultz's initial visit to the center on Oct. 29. A second examination on Nov. 19 revealed that the muscle balance in the rookie's shoulder had improved and that the soreness was dissipating.

Fultz spent time last week at the center rehabilitating under Kibler's supervision.