PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Robert Covington doused Markelle Fultz over the head with cups of water, a basketball baptism of sorts for a rookie No. 1 pick who already needed a career rebirth.Fultz had the Philly sports world buzzing and was trending on social networks when his return was casually dropped by coach Brett Brown about 90 minutes before tipoff. Fultz got a standing ovation when he checked in to a game for the first time in five months, then promptly airballed his first jumper. But by the fourth quarter, the chants for "Fultz! Fultz! Fultz!" were so loud, the 76ers rookie briefly thought that perhaps Super Bowl MVP and Eagles QB Nick Foles was in the house.This was a different kind of Philly Special.The Sixers have made a giant leap from the painful "Process" to the postseason that has 50 wins and home court advantage firmly in sight over the final nine games.All-Star Joel Embiid and rookie of the year favorite Ben Simmons are headed to the playoffs — and they're bringing Fultz along... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Markelle Fultz will return to the Philadelphia 76ers' lineup on Monday.Coach Brett Brown made the surprise announcement before the Sixers' game against Denver. Fultz, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 draft, will come off the bench.Fultz played the 76ers' first four games of the season but has been sidelined since.Fultz was ruled out indefinitely in October with soreness and a scapular muscle imbalance in the shoulder. The team announced Dec. 9 the soreness was gone, the imbalance had been resolved, and he was going to participate in "elevated on-court basketball activities." Then on Jan. 2, the team announced Fultz had been cleared to begin the final stage of his "return-to-play program."Fultz averaged 6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in his four games this season.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers want Markelle Fultz back this season, but only when the No. 1 pick in last year's draft is comfortable that he's regained his shooting stroke.Coach Brett Brown said before Saturday night's game against Minnesota that it would take Fultz telling the team's he's ready to play before a decision is made on his status for the rest of the regular season and playoffs."There's no clandestine conspiracy theory motive," Brown said. "You know what I know. It's fluid."Fultz played four games in October and shot 9-of-27 from the field and didn't attempt a 3-pointer. The Sixers then shut down the 19-year-old with what they called "soreness and scapular muscle imbalance in his right shoulder."Fultz has long since returned to practice, but is still working on his shooting form. Video from workouts in January showed Fultz awkwardly pushing the ball from his chest. It appears his stroke has improved, but he missed his 68th consecutive game Saturday."I think he is... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Markelle Fultz, the top overall pick in last year's NBA draft, may not play again this season as he deals with a right shoulder injury and works on his shot.Fultz played the 76ers' first four games of the season but has been sidelined since.Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo said Friday before the team's game against the New Orleans Pelicans that Fultz is progressing in his recovery — but with uncertainty."There's always a chance that he's going to be out there soon, and there's a chance that he's not going to play this year," Colangelo said. "I can't answer that question because we don't know the answer to that. Markelle's doing great. He's progressing well."The hedging around Fultz's status comes as a surprise given that he appeared on track to return soon.Colangelo says the team will play Fultz when he's ready, but don't have a timeline right now.Fultz was ruled out indefinitely in October with soreness and a scapular muscle imbalance in the... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Markelle Fultz, the top overall pick in last year's NBA draft, may not play again this season as he deals with a right shoulder injury and works on his shot.Fultz played the 76ers' first four games of the season but has been sidelined since.Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo said Friday before the team's game against the New Orleans Pelicans that Fultz is progressing in his recovery — but with uncertainty."There's always a chance that he's going to be out there soon, and there's a chance that he's not going to play this year," Colangelo said. "I can't answer that question because we don't know the answer to that. Markelle's doing great. He's progressing well."The hedging around Fultz's status comes as a surprise given that he appeared on track to return soon.Colangelo says the team will play Fultz when he's ready, but don't have a timeline right now.Fultz was ruled out indefinitely in October with soreness and a scapular muscle imbalance in the... [More]

Monty McCutchen's father raised an interesting point not long ago, and it resonated right away with the former NBA referee who decided to hang up his whistle earlier this season."He told me that no decision is real if it is easy," McCutchen said.McCutchen's move off the floor and into the NBA office was certainly not easy. But instead of calling a few games a week, McCutchen sees his job now as one where he could have a say in how they all get officiated. About a month into his job as an NBA vice president overseeing referee development and training, McCutchen is jumping in with both feet.He and fellow NBA executive Michelle Johnson are going to be instrumental in the league's plan to improve how players and referees get along. There's going to be more education, more studying, more explaining and more listening — and McCutchen truly believes it will work."I'm invigorated by the people I'm working with, Michelle Johnson," McCutchen said. "I'm invigorated by the people in our office who... [More]

Monty McCutchen's father raised an interesting point not long ago, and it resonated right away with the former NBA referee who decided to hang up his whistle earlier this season."He told me that no decision is real if it is easy," McCutchen said.McCutchen's move off the floor and into the NBA office was certainly not easy. But instead of calling a few games a week, McCutchen sees his job now as one where he could have a say in how they all get officiated. About a month into his job as an NBA vice president overseeing referee development and training, McCutchen is jumping in with both feet.He and fellow NBA executive Michelle Johnson are going to be instrumental in the league's plan to improve how players and referees get along. There's going to be more education, more studying, more explaining and more listening — and McCutchen truly believes it will work."I'm invigorated by the people I'm working with, Michelle Johnson," McCutchen said. "I'm invigorated by the people in our office who... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In his lone college season at Washington, guard Markelle Fultz shot better than 50 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range. He showed so much promise that the Philadelphia 76ers traded up to take him with the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft.Now the 19-year-old's shooting stroke is so ugly and ineffective he remains sidelined even as he regains his health following a right shoulder injury."I'm old, and I've never experienced anything like this," Sixers coach Brett Brown said Monday of Fultz's lost shot. "I really haven't."Fultz missed his 36th straight game on Monday, a 117-111 victory over the Toronto Raptors, a day after reporters saw him awkwardly push the ball from his chest while badly missing 3-point attempts at the end of practice.Fultz, who didn't speak to reporters, is a long way from teaming with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid and making the Sixers a contender after a lengthy rebuild."The organization will help him reclaim the reason he... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid went from doubtful to dominant, using a sprained right hand that nearly sidelined him to instead rock the rim, swat shots and stop the Spurs."I want to be out there with them. I don't want to quit on them," Embiid said.Ruled out by the 76ers before tipoff, Embiid made the call to push through and play, and then dealt San Antonio a rare bad hand in Philadelphia. Embiid had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the 76ers to a 112-106 win over the Spurs on Wednesday night.The Sixers needed all 35 minutes from Embiid to knock off short-handed San Antonio and snap a 12-game losing streak to the Spurs.It was the same old Embiid during the 76ers' fast start. He grabbed a rebound and had a putback for the first score of the game and had six points and six rebounds in the first quarter.He slammed home an alley-oop in the third and never even looked at his hand as he sank a free throw to finish the play."I was fine. Nothing to worry about," Embiid said.Embiid, who blocked... [More]

The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics will pack their bags and head across the pond to play a regular-season game at the O2 Arena in London on Jan. 11, the NBA announced on Thursday. The contest will be the league's eighth regular-season contest in London, and it will mark the second appearance for Philadelphia and Boston after playing preseason games in London and Manchester, respectively."This will be our 16th game (overall) in London where our events have become an annual opportunity for basketball fans across Europe to come together and share their passion for the NBA," commissioner Adam Silver said.The NBA London Game will feature the Atlantic Division rivals who found themselves as trade partners prior to this year's draft. The 76ers traded up to select Markelle Fultz with the top overall choice while the Celtics tabbed Jayson Tatum with the third pick.Philadelphia's Joel Embiid is looking to lift his team to the playoffs for the first time since 2012."I look forward to coming back to London with the Sixers after visiting for the first time this summer," Embiid said in a statement. "We are a young, hungry team, and we will be sure to give the fans an exciting game against Boston in January."The Denver Nuggets posted a 140-112 victory over the Indiana Pacers in last season's game in London.

Ben Simmons, already looking ahead to next season as the Philadelphia 76ers' starting point guard, is excited about the team's new additions.The 6-foot-10 Simmons said he has bought into head coach Brett Brown's vision for the 2017-18 season, even though he would be one of the tallest players to ever play point guard in the NBA."I think you can move me anywhere. But I'm a starting point guard," Simmons, the No. 1 overall pick in last season's draft, told reporters in Las Vegas on Sunday night while watching the NBA Summer League games.Brown announced in December that he planned to use Simmons at point guard and in April stood firm with his decision, although he doesn't envision Simmons guarding the opposing team's point guard during games.Sixers 6-5 guard Markelle Fultz, the No. 1 overall pick in last month's draft, is seen as a shooting guard by Brown to complement Simmons in the backcourt."We're excited to use him as the primary ball carrier," Brown said of Simmons after drafting Fultz.Simmons,... [More]