NBA round-up: Klay Thompson nightmare, Paul George scare, Zach Edey shines...

The Sixers secured a win in Atlanta during their fourth preseason game (89-104), but it came with a significant scare. On the day an ESPN article outlined the franchise’s grand plan for this season (and beyond), including their efforts to finally reach the playoffs with healthy stars and renewed care for Joel Embiid (who has yet to play in an Eastern Conference Finals), Paul George collapsed in the second quarter while defending Jalen Johnson and did not return. The left knee injury cast a shadow over the second half, as the Sixers’ camp anxiously awaited updates from the medical team, just over a week before the start of the regular season.

Paul George concern for Sixers

The initial report indicates a hyperextension, which describes more the movement causing the injury than its severity. At first glance, this seems to rule out the worst-case scenarios. However, more clarity will come with treatment and further tests. George, playing in his second game for the Sixers, had only logged 12 minutes and scored 8 points before exiting. The veteran forward is the Sixers’ marquee offseason acquisition, a critical piece in their push to break through their playoff barriers with the new big three of Maxey-George-Embiid. Given his age (34) and extensive injury history, George’s health is as pivotal as Embiid’s. The ESPN article revealed that both players are unlikely to participate in both games of the team’s back-to-back sets. Last season, George played 74 games, his highest total since 2019, after four seasons where he didn’t surpass 56 games. After the game, both George and his coach, Nick Nurse, expressed optimism, though Nurse acknowledged that it was a setback not being able to give more minutes to a new player who needs to integrate into the system.

Nick Nurse also made a shift in his usual lineup, benching Caleb Martin (possibly as a test or a more permanent adjustment) and starting Eric Gordon instead. Guerschon Yabusele, who came off the bench with Andre Drummond filling in for Embiid, once again played significant minutes. Yabusele performed well, first as a small-ball center in place of Drummond (a role he’s taken on often in this preseason, with Embiid sitting out), and later as a power forward alongside Drummond, the team’s traditional center. Yabusele logged 21 minutes, contributing 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists. He continues to rebound effectively and shoot from three with confidence and accuracy (2/4 this game, 6/12 in the preseason), two critical factors that could solidify his spot in Nurse’s primary rotation. The Sixers will debut their regular season next Wednesday in a highly anticipated matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.

A giant called Edey is on the loose in Tennessee

Another highlight of the night came in the Pacers-Grizzlies game, played without Tyrese Haliburton or Pascal Siakam for the home team, and with Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, and Jaren Jackson Jr. missing for the visitors. Despite these absences, the Grizzlies secured a 116-120 victory, continuing to build positive momentum with a 3-1 preseason record after last season’s nightmare due to injuries and Morant’s off-court issues.

Desmond Bane had a standout performance, looking dominant with 23 points (9/16 shooting), including 18 points by halftime without relying heavily on the three-point shot. Another key contributor was the towering Zach Edey, the 22-year-old, 7′4″ Canadian center selected ninth in the last draft.

Many doubted Edey would be a top-10 pick due to concerns about how his attributes – so dominant at Purdue, where he was College Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons – would translate to the current pace and style of the NBA. However, Edey is proving that the Grizzlies can rely on him, showing he’s more than just his massive height. He has solid fundamentals, effective post moves, an increasingly refined hook shot, and, of course, is a natural force above the rim – finishing plays on offense and intimidating on defense.

Edey played just 19 minutes but made a significant impact, finishing with 23 points (10/15 shooting) and 9 rebounds. Santi Aldama, who is less than a week away from finding out if he will receive a contract extension with the Grizzlies, logged 18 minutes and contributed 6 points and 3 rebounds.

Tough night for Klay Thompson in LA

In the last preseason game on Monday night, the Clippers played at home for the first time, marking the debut of the luxurious Intuit Dome, their new home away from Crypto.com Arena and the long shadow of the Lakers. Although they’ve relocated to Inglewood, where the Showtime Lakers’ legend was forged, it’s a fresh start for the franchise.

The Clippers, still without Kawhi Leonard - who won’t be ready for the start of the regular season, as Tyronn Lue confirmed when announcing the starting lineup – improved to 3-1 in preseason. They secured a 110-96 win in their new home over the Mavericks, who were missing both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the team that knocked them out in the last playoffs.

James Harden struggled with his shooting (10 points on 3/12), but excelled as a playmaker, dishing out 12 assists. The Clippers’ current starting lineup – Powell, Mann, Zubac, and Derrick Jones Jr., in place of Kawhi Leonard – worked well, with Jones Jr. contributing 12 points against his former team. Several of the newer arrivals also stood out off the bench: Kia Jones added 12 points and 4 rebounds, Kris Dunn made a solid contribution, and Kevin Porter Jr., fresh from his stint in Greece, had an impressive performance with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.

For the Mavericks, Jaden Hardy continued to make the most of the absences of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, scoring 16 points and adding 4 assists. Dereck Lively once again showed his potential to become one of the NBA’s top centers with a versatile performance (8 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks). Though Doncic did not play, he participated in pregame warmups and has a chance to make his season debut on Thursday in the game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Among the new arrivals, Quentin Grimes stood out with a much stronger performance (20 points on 11 shots) compared to Nnaji Marshall (6 points on 9 shots) and the returning Spencer Dinwiddie (3 points on 5 shots). However, the most notable talking point was Klay Thompson’s dreadful night. In 21 minutes, he failed to score a single point, going 0/9 from the field (0/6 from three) and recording just one assist alongside four turnovers.