LeBron James sits out 76ers' matchup with Bucks on Saturday, first of back-to-back games
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In an early indication of how the Philadelphia 76ers might handle LeBron James' workload this season, he sat out Saturday's 127-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
James was officially listed as out on the Sixers' injury report with low back/ sciatica management. He was originally designated as questionable on Friday, but was downgraded Saturday afternoon.
Saturday's game was the first of a back-to-back for Philadelphia, which will play the Detroit Pistons on Sunday to close out a three-game homestand.
Sciatica was an issue early last season for James, who missed the Los Angeles Lakers' first 14 games . While that hasn't appeared to be a concern for the 41-year-old through the preseason and first two regular-season contests, the Sixers apparently want to make sure that his back and legs don't become a greater problem.
James averaged 33 minutes in Philadelphia's first two games, which is around the amount head coach Nick Nurse said he wanted to play him and center Joel Embiid during the early stages of the schedule.
In two games, James is averaging 15.5 points, while leading the 76ers with 9.5 rebounds and 6 assists per contest. He's appeared to be content with being more of a facilitator and helping the Sixers on the boards, while Tyrese Maxey (30 ppg) and Jaylen Brown (20 ppg) handle the scoring responsibilities and Embiid works inside.
James sat out Saturday while Embiid could miss Sunday's game. The 7-footer indicated after Thursday's 114-106 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers that he was told he wouldn't play both games of the back-to-back. He averaged 34 minutes in the Sixers' first two games.
"I'm not playing both games," Embiid said, via NBC Sports Philadelphia . "I'm playing one of them. I don't know. They're going to tell me. But I feel good. Whatever they tell me, I'll do it."
Embiid notched a triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the 76ers to a win without James. Jaylen Brown followed with 27 points and Tyrese Maxey tallied 26. V.J. Edgecombe added 17, shooting 5-for-10 on 3-pointers, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went 4-for-6 from behind the arc and finished with 12 points.
Dean Wade returned to the Philadelphia lineup with 7 points in 28 minutes after missing the team's first three games because of an ankle injury. Wade, 29, was listed as questionable going into Saturday's game and had not yet played this season after spraining his left ankle in the team's final preseason game.