NBA: Paul George injured in 76ers’ loss to Grizzlies

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) passes the ball as Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) defends during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George played together for the first time this NBA season, but the reunion didn’t last long.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 25 points and Desmond Bane recovered from a dismal performance to post 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the host Memphis Grizzlies to a 117-111 victory over the 76ers Wednesday night.

Embiid, playing in just his fourth game this season, led the 76ers with 35 points and 11 rebounds. Jared McCain added 20 points and Guerschon Yabusele scored 17 for Philadelphia, which lost its fifth straight and for the 10th time in 11 games.

READ: NBA: Paul George has bone bruise, no structural damage in knee

Bane’s performance offset a difficult outing in a 12-point home loss to Denver on Tuesday, when he finished with five points after shooting 1-of-10 from the floor. He recovered against the 76ers with his second double-double in three games and added six assists.

Maxey tallied eight points on 3-of-13 shooting with three assists in his return to the lineup after missing six consecutive games with a strained right hamstring.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) reacts in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

George left the game less than a minute into the third quarter after suffering a hyperextended left knee while grabbing a rebound. He finished with two points on 1-of-6 shooting. Embiid also departed for the locker room at the end of the third quarter, also with a knee injury, but returned midway through the fourth.

Memphis led by as many as 19 in the second half but saw its lead dwindle to 115-111 in the closing minute after an Embiid layup. Jackson’s two free throws with 16 seconds remaining sealed the win.

READ: NBA: 76ers rule out Paul George, Joel Embiid for fourth straight game

The Grizzlies finished 16-of-16 at the line after not attempting a free throw in the first half.

Memphis, which never led in its loss Tuesday night, had a torrid second quarter, connecting on 8-of-15 3-pointers. The Grizzlies ended the quarter on an 8-0 run to carry a 63-53 lead into halftime.

The Grizzlies shot 50 percent from beyond the arc (13-of-26) in the first half. Bane had 16 points for Memphis, while Embiid had 15 as the Sixers entered halftime shooting just 4-of-18 (22.2 percent) from 3-point range.

The Grizzlies also won the first game between the two on Nov. 2, a 124-107 victory in Philadelphia. –Field Level Media