Noel should return to Philly this week

Nerlens Noel should be back in Philadelphia sometime later this week to continue his rehabilitation at the 76ers' practice facility. It's not definite, though.

The reserve center had surgery to repair inflamed tissue above his left knee on Oct. 24. He is rehabilitating under the supervision of Kevin Wilk, the associate clinical director at Champion Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Ala.

The 6-foot-11, 228-pounder's only game action was a  preseason-opening game on Oct. 4 against the Boston Celtics at the University of Massachusetts.  He finished that game with six points on 3-for-8 shooting. Noel also finished with three rebounds, two assists and one steal.

He practiced the following, but has since sidelined with what Sixers thought was just a left groin strain.   Noel kept experiencing pain in his knee. After being examined, the team realized that he also had an inflamed plica.

Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.