Ariel Hukporti injured against his former team
The Philadelphia 76ers opened their preseason with a 120-97 victory over the New York Knicks, but the win was overshadowed by an injury to backup center Ariel Hukporti.
The 24-year-old German big man suffered a noncontact right leg injury just five minutes into the game.
With 7:06 remaining in the first quarter, Hukporti fell to the floor on the defensive end and immediately grabbed his lower right leg.
He was helped off the court during the following timeout.
Nick Nurse confirms Achilles imaging
Following the game, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse confirmed that Hukporti would undergo imaging on his right Achilles tendon on Tuesday.
The team has not yet announced a definitive diagnosis.
“I just saw him for a little bit during the game. Gave him a big hug. He’s been a joy to coach in the short time he’s been here. Really a good dude. So, we’ll just hope for the best,” Nurse said.
Hukporti joined Philadelphia during the offseason on a one-year, $3.4 million contract after winning an NBA championship with the Knicks.
Selected with the 58th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, he averaged 2.1 points and 2.7 rebounds over two seasons in New York.
Jaylen Brown and Jabari Walker react to Hukporti’s injury
Several Philadelphia players expressed their support for Hukporti following the injury.
“Huk has been a joy to have,” Jaylen Brown said. “He’s been great in the locker room, so it sucks to see a guy like that go down.”
Jabari Walker, who stepped into a bigger role following Hukporti’s departure, finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes, shooting 3-for-5 from three-point range.
“He’s like my brother,” Walker said. “It’s especially hard for me because I see the work he puts in. He just came to training camp and his energy has been great. He’s a great locker room guy. Man … that messed me up, honestly.”
Philadelphia already dealing with frontcourt injuries
Hukporti’s injury adds to Philadelphia’s concerns in the frontcourt.
Joel Embiid, who has missed 150 games over the past three seasons, has been healthy during training camp but was rested against the Knicks. LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey were also held out despite being healthy.
Meanwhile, Adem Bona has yet to participate in training camp after suffering a left foot sprain while playing for Turkey’s national team during the offseason.
Tacko Fall is also sidelined after being diagnosed with a left hip sprain. He is expected to be reevaluated approximately two weeks after the diagnosis.
Nurse still has Jabari Walker, Dean Wade and Dominick Barlow available as alternative frontcourt options.
Salary restrictions could complicate a replacement signing
If Hukporti’s injury turns out to be a torn Achilles, the Sixers could face financial challenges in adding another center to their standard roster.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Philadelphia is only $1.8 million below the first apron.
Even if the team receives a disabled player exception, it may need to waive Walker, whose salary carries just $250,000 in guaranteed money, or complete a minor trade to create additional flexibility.
The Sixers will continue their preseason against the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics before opening the regular season on October 20 against the Knicks in New York.
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