76ers point guard Jrue Holiday nursing sprained left foot
The 76ers' most effective player, point guard Jrue Holiday, has a sprained left foot and will be a game-time decision for Friday's matchup against the Pacers in Indiana.
The 76ers' most effective player, point guard Jrue Holiday, has a sprained left foot and will be a game-time decision for Friday's matchup against the Pacers in Indiana.
Holiday wore a boot on his left foot Thursday when he left the Sixers' practice facility.
Holiday played 40 minutes and 16 seconds in Wednesday's 96-89 loss to the visiting Chicago Bulls. He scored 26 points.
According to a team official, Holiday said he did not feel any pain after the game but woke up in pain Thursday.
Point guard Royal Ivey won't make the trip because he has strep throat, the Sixers said.
Sixers coach Doug Collins said that if Holiday cannot play, Evan Turner will start at point guard.
"Jrue has been great for us," Collins said.
Holiday is averaging 18.4 points, 8.9 assists, 3.8 turnovers, 1.5 steals, and 38.5 minutes per game. In the first quarter of the season, he entered the All-Star Game discussion.
If Holiday doesn't play, the Sixers have no choice but to adapt.
"This is an NBA team," Sixers guard Jason Richardson said. "Evan playing point or [rookie] Maalik [Wayns] will have to come in and step up."
Holiday has been a durable performer. Now in his fourth season, he has missed just 10 games, nine in his first year. Holiday had a streak of 188 straight games snapped in the final regular-season game last season when Collins rested him.
Notes. Thaddeus Young also did not practice Thursday, but it had nothing to do with injury. Young constantly battles bigger power forwards, and Collins said he just wanted to give him a breather. . . . The Sixers said Damien Wilkins (calf strain) would be a game-time decision. He practiced. . . . Friday will be the first meeting between the Sixers (12-10) and Indiana (11-11). . . . The Pacers have played all season without star Danny Granger (left patellar tendinosis, commonly known as "jumper's knee"). The team hopes he can return by mid- to late February.