Sixers' Noel to miss game Saturday

With three games left, the biggest question for the 76ers is whether Nerlens Noel has played his final game this season.

Noel suffered a right-ankle sprain when he came down on the right foot of Will Bynum while attempting to block a shot during the fourth quarter of a 119-90 loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

The 76ers rookie rolled the ankle and was in considerable pain. He was receiving treatment long after the game and was not available for comment.

The Sixers didn't practice Thursday. They will depart Friday for Chicago, where they will practice for their game Saturday against the Bulls.

A team spokesman said Thursday that Noel was out for Saturday.

The Sixers will end the season with home games on Monday against Milwaukee and Wednesday against the Miami Heat.

Noel missed last season while recovering from knee surgery, and there was a question about his durability entering this season. But he appeared in 75 of the Sixers' 79 games.

He missed the sixth and seventh games of the season, against Chicago and at Toronto, because of a left-ankle sprain.

He was sidelined for a Dec. 1 home game against San Antonio with a right-hip pointer. He also was out Jan. 21 against the visiting New York Knicks with an upper respiratory infection.

Since then Noel appeared in 37 consecutive games.

Noel was limited to just 11 minutes after suffering a game-ending cut to his right lower eyelid in the second quarter of a 92-91 loss Saturday at Charlotte. He returned to play 37 minutes the next night in a 101-91 loss in New York.

For the season, the 6-foot-11 Noel is averaging 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.9 blocked shots in 30.8 minutes and has a rookie-high 18 double-doubles.

He got stronger as the season has worn on. During his current 37-game playing streak, he is averaging 11.8 points and 9.1 rebounds in 31.5 minutes.

Noel will likely earn all-rookie honors, although Minnesota's Andrew Wiggins is the favorite to be the NBA rookie of the year.