Kelly Oubre Jr. could be back in action next week, according to a new report.
The 76ers forward is aiming to return next week, with the possibility of him playing as soon as the Sixers’ home matchup with the Wizards on Dec. 6, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Oubre suffered a fractured rib after allegedly being struck by a vehicle near his Center City home in Philadelphia on Nov. 11, the team announced then.
At the time, ESPN reported that Oubre was expected to miss “significant” time.
Now, less than a month later, he could be back in game action, which would be a monumental boost for the 76ers.
If Oubre doesn’t return by next Wednesday, he could make his return later in the week when the Sixers host the Hawks.
Philly takes on the Celtics this Friday before going on a four-day break, making Dec. 6 the first potential game Oubre could return for.
There had been some hope that Oubre could get back into game action this week after he had joined the 76ers on their two-game road trip through New Orleans and Boston.
Head coach Nick Nurse had told reporters that the forward participated in “portions” of practice earlier in the week.
“He was in portions of practice today,” Nurse said Tuesday, according to USA Today. “Some of it was contact-wise. He did OK. He is gonna make the trip and we’re gonna keep putting him out there in team settings as we go here.”
Nurse later said that Oubre “maybe” could return on Friday in Boston.
“I’m just waiting for medical to tell me he’s ready to go, right?” Nurse added. “I think that’s always the progress of can he go? Is he freely moving? Which I think he is. Can he get into this contact part of it? Not quite all the way there yet I don’t think with some sustainability and then we get to see where he is conditioning-wise at the end of that.”
Oubre was averaging 16.3 points on 50 percent shooting from the field before the injury.
The Sixers have seemingly missed his presence, going 5-5 without him.
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