PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Paul George’s debut with the Philadelphia 76ers has been postponed and Joel Embiid will miss time again with an injury.

Embiid and George will miss Wednesday’s season opener against Milwaukee and could miss more games as the All-Stars expected to lead Philadelphia to their first championship since returning from injuries in 1983.

George was set to make his Sixers debut after leaving the Los Angeles Clippers and signing a four-year, $212 million contract as a free agent this summer. But 34-year-old George suffered a bruise on his bone when he… his left knee hyperextended during a preseason game.

The Sixers did not say Tuesday how many more games George could miss; his return to play will be assessed later in the week.

The Bucks also lost a dose of star power prior to the game as the NBA opens this week.

Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday that Bucks forward Khris Middleton is also not expected to play in the opener. The three-time All-Star has not had any 5-on-5 work in the preseason as he recovers from off-season operations on each of his ankles.

“It’s pretty 100% to 99,” Rivers said of the likelihood that Middleton won’t play.

George, a nine-time All-Star, was injured when his knee buckled during a defensive play in the second quarter of a game last week against Atlanta.

George has battled injuries for much of his career before playing 76 games last season, the first time he has played more than 56 games since 2018-19.

He discussed the bone bruise this week in his ‘Podcast P with Paul George’. A six-time All-NBA selection, George said his knee was stable with no major damage, nor did it cause any long-term health concerns.

“My leg was literally stuck. I don’t even know what else to call it. Only my knee was stuck, my leg was stuck,” George said in his podcast. “When I went to push off, all my momentum went forward and my leg made it go inward. I know I thought about it when I saw it straight away, I thought, ah, this doesn’t feel right, this doesn’t feel right.

The Sixers’ schedule also includes games at Indiana on Sunday and home games on Wednesday and Saturday.

“I’m going to be good. I’ll be good,’ said George. “I should hopefully be back sooner rather than later, but it won’t be a long timescale I would imagine.”

The Sixers are on a familiar path with Embiid.

He didn’t play in the preseason due to a sore left knee.

The Sixers said Embiid was “responding well” to his individualized rehabilitation plan and was expected to fight this week. Embiid will also miss Friday’s game against Toronto and will be re-evaluated this weekend.

“There have been no setbacks,” coach Nick Nurse told reporters at the 76ers complex in New Jersey. “He is very active. He’s lost some weight. He’s on the field. We’re just kind of sticking to our plan to make sure we get to a really, really good place before we play it live.

The 30-year-old, who won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in Paris, signed a contract worth $193 million ahead of training camp. The 76ers have failed to advance out of the second round of the playoffs since 2001, largely because Embiid has failed to stay healthy for an entire postseason.

Embiid has never played more than 68 games in a season and was largely limited to 39 last season due to knee surgery. He tore the meniscus in his left knee on January 30 and underwent surgery on February 6.

“We have to do what it takes to make sure I’m healthy in the postseason,” Embiid said in September. “It’s all it takes to make sure I get to that point and I’m ready to go. In fact, I’ve been injured in the playoffs every year of my career. That’s the goal, to do whatever it takes to get there.”

The 76ers finished 31-8 with Embiid last season — about a 65-win pace — and a dismal 16-27 without him.

Embiid revealed prior to training camp that he lost about 25 to 30 pounds over the summer to stay in better shape for the long stretch of the season. That also means you shouldn’t rush back because of further knee problems.

“Until I get to the point where they feel like I’m ready, I’m sure they’re going to hold me back,” Embiid said during the meeting. team media day. “I believe with the guys we have and what I can bring, we have a pretty good chance (of a title).”

He has five All-NBA Team honors, seven consecutive All-Star selections from 2017-24, three All-Defensive Team nods and has been a two-time NBA scoring champion.

With George joining as the 2023 NBA MVP Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese MaxeyThe 76ers were expected to boast one of the most formidable trios in the league as they try to put together a core that can compete with the defending champion Boston Celtics.

Maxey is expected to play after the guard suffered a bruised right thumb in the preseason.

As for the Bucks, Rivers said Middleton’s injury is more of a day-to-day issue and shouldn’t keep him out for long. A variety of injuries limited Middleton to 55 regular-season games last year and 33 in 2022-23.

“I would say if this was a playoff game he would probably be playing, or close to it,” Rivers said.

Taurean Prince started in place of Middleton during preseason.

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AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee in Milwaukee contributed to this report.

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