Michael Carter-Williams expected to return to action on Thursday, November 13

The Sixers season is off to a shaky start, but help may be on the way.

After missing the team's first seven games, all of which resulted in Sixer losses, the team's reigning Rookie of the Year, Michael Carter-Williams is on pace to make his season debut on Thursday, November 13 in Dallas.

Carter-Williams had shoulder surgery in May, and has been methodically recovering since. He returned to full practice last week. November 13 was targeted as a return date by the team several weeks back, and barring any setbacks this week, Coach Brett Brown expects that Carter-Williams will make the mark.

Joining him in return may be Nerlens Noel, who has missed the team's past two contests with a left ankle sprain. With no games on the calendar between Sunday's blowout loss to the Raptors and Thursday's showdown with the Mavericks in Dallas, Brown is optimistic that Noel will be fully healed and ready to return. Prior to the injury, Noel was averaging 7.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game.

Despite both being drafted by Philadelphia in the 2013 Draft, Carter-Williams and Noel, former AAU teammates in Massachusetts, have yet to suit up for the Sixers simultaneously.  Thursday could represent their debut as a duo in Philadelphia.