76ers Injury Update: Will Kelly Oubre Jr. Play Tonight in the In-Season Tournament vs Cavaliers After Showing Improvement in Practice?

The Philadelphia 76ers have pleasantly surprised everyone with their excellent start to the season. They currently occupy the second spot in the Eastern Conference standings, having secured victories in 10 out of their 13 matches. In Harden’s absence, 22-year-old Tyrese Maxey has stepped up to provide franchise cornerstone Joel Embiid with help in scoring. Another player who has started the season on fire for the Sixers is Kelly Oubre.

However, he was at the receiving end of an alleged hit-and-run case recently, which has sidelined him. With the Sixers scheduled to face the Cavaliers later tonight, the availability of Oubre has been a topic of discussion among the Philly faithful.

Oubre showing signs of improvement

On November 11th, news surfaced about a hit-and-run incident in the city center of Philadelphia involving Kelly Oubre. According to reports, Kelly Oubre Jr. was hit by a vehicle, resulting in injuries to his ribs. However, the police haven’t recovered any significant evidence regarding the case. The lack of clarity surrounding the case has led to speculations about the real reason behind Oubre’s injury. Various people speculate that Oubre incurred injuries due to a BMX biking incident. TMZ acquired footage showing Oubre entering his apartment with a BMX bike, stating that a car had struck him.

The Sixers stated that Oubre had suffered significant injuries, but just a week later, he had started light shooting drills. Philadelphia Inquirer journalist, Keith Pompey, put out a video of Oubre back at the 76ers facility practicing shooting. This has led to many fans being optimistic about his availability for their match against the Cavs. However, the Sixers haven’t put a timeline on Oubre’s return.

Coach Nick Nurse said this in a press conference: “I haven’t really zeroed in on thinking about the timeline, to be honest.” Nurse later said, “I think I knew it was going to be a little bit before we knew. I think he’s moving pretty good today, and that’s the first positive sign. The sooner, the better, that’s for sure.”

Predicted lineups: Sixers vs Cavaliers

The Sixers have had a fine start to the 2023-24 season. Many fans and analysts wrote off the 76ers before the start of the season. But Nick Nurse’s tactics and the brilliance of Embiid and Maxey have catapulted the Sixers to the upper echelons of the table. They could start the game with Maxey, De’Anthony Melton, Nic Batum, Tobias Harris, and Joel Embiid.

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On the other hand, the Cavaliers have started the season with inconsistency. After an encouraging 2022-23 season, big things were expected of this young Cavs roster. However, they find themselves in the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference standings, with 7 wins and 6 defeats. The Cavs would field a strong starting 5, which would consist of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. They would look to notch another victory from a title contender after defeating the Nuggets in their last game. Who would win the game? Let us know in the comments below!

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