Tyrese Maxey close to a return for Sixers, could come off the bench initially

Tyrese Maxey is close to a return for the Philadelphia 76ers and he could play off the bench initially.

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers continue to work through numerous injuries while getting everybody on the same page. During their current seven-game homestand, they welcomed some players back to the rotation. Tyrese Maxey remains sidelined, however.

The young man out of Kentucky has not played since Nov. 18 due to a left foot fracture. As the Sixers get set for a Christmas Day showdown with the New York Knicks on Sunday, coach Doc Rivers offered a positive update on Maxey and his return.

“He’s close, I can tell you that,” Rivers said on Friday. “He’s making great progress. He had a great workout yesterday (Thursday), so he’s close.”

As far as what Philadelphia will do with Maxey when he returns, Rivers said a bench role is possible. The goal would be to ease him back into games before he bears the brunt of starting again.

“I see all scenarios with our guys,” he explained. “When he comes back, we’re not gonna throw him right in, regardless. He’s been out a long time and it’s a foot injury so it’s not like conditioning, but we’re open to everything.”

The Sixers take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday to end their homestand.

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