Asked Nick Nurse after the Cavs game if he considered subbing out his heavy-minute guys earlier in the fourth quarter. Here’s his response (plus more on-the-ground nuggets from the road trip)

Sixers say rookie big man Johni Broome has been assigned to the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats. They open their season at 1pm tomorrow, so could be a case where he is also back in Philly for Sixers-Raptors.

Here is the bandage / wrap on Dominick Barlow's lacerated elbow. Barlow last played October 25th against the Hornets.

Nick Nurse calls Paul George’s meeting with doctors this weekend “the last hurdle” when asked about George not yet playing this season.

Asked Nurse if this is one of the more bizarre injuries he’s seen as a coach, and he concurred.

Here’s more of Paul George’s shooting/conditioning work.

Updates from the Sixers: Paul George is meeting with doctors over the weekend to assess his recovery, and his next steps will determined from that. Dominick Barlow (elbow) is seeing his surgeon early next week, and will remain out for both games tomorrow and Sunday.

Jared McCain and Paul George are the last guys on the practice floor, doing some shooting and conditioning drills.

We’ve got a Dominick Barlow sighting at practice (sitting on the sideline not doing on-court work). He is wearing a cast/brace thing that basically takes up his entire arm.

Asked Nick Nurse after the Cavs game if he considered subbing out his heavy-minute guys earlier in the fourth quarter. Here’s his response (plus more on-the-ground nuggets from the road trip)

When Andre Drummond checked back in for Wednesday’s fourth quarter in Cleveland, Darius Garland told him, “Yo, just throw in the towel already.” “Fuck no," Drummond responded. "We're going to keep playing 'til this shit’s over.” More nuggets from the road👇🏻 www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixer...

Cavs 107, Sixers 87 at the end of the third.

And now Donovan's cooking again. Sixers made a nice run but could not sustain, because the third quarter is the third quarter.

The NBA: Where Amazing Happens

Andre Drummond corner three?!

Sixers and third quarters. Tale as old as time.

Jabari Walker took a hard fall and was grabbing his back while heading to the timeout. The Sixers' best lineups tonight were with him off the floor, but they are already missing Barlow (and PG) at that pseudo power forward spot.

PUT HER IN THE HALL AS A CONTRIBUTOR YOU COWARDS

Halftime: Cavs 70, Sixers 67. This easily could have gone from bad to worse after the first quarter, given the back-to-back. But the Sixers battled back in the second, and then we got a great Maxey (18-3-4) spurt to end the half. Watford also big with 13 points and 4 assists.

RED PANDA DID THE BACK-TO-BACK WITH US THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

Maxey nodding his head while backpedaling after stepping into that transition three-pointer. Sixers have gotten within 63-58 with 2:41 left in the half.

Another strong outing for Watford, who has 13 points and two assists off the bench. Wrote this in Brooklyn about his return from the hamstring injury, and the versatility the Sixers expect from him.

Admirable effort by the Sixers to claw back into this one -- especially with Maxey on the bench.

Me with all these reviews

Interesting group out there to start the second: Edgecombe-Grimes-Edwards-Watford-Bona.

Cavs 41, Sixers 25 at the end of the first. Another bad defensive quarter, after Cleveland shot 51.7 percent from the floor and 7-of-16 from deep. An d a rare rough period for Maxey, who started with another tough make but then went 1-of-3 from the floor with four turnovers.

Edwards guarding Donovan Mitchell, and just picked up two fouls in a few seconds. He is a crafty with the ball.

Justin Edwards first-quarter minutes incoming, after he did not play last night.

Sixers so far look like a team playing on the second night of a back-to-back. They have four turnovers in four minutes, are are 2-of-7 from the floor, and are leaving the Cavs wide open beyond the arc. It's 17-4 Cleveland and Nurse calls timeout.

Jared McCain pulled this out at his locker about an hour before his first NBA game in 11 months. If that doesn’t make you want to read about his return to the court, I don’t know what will!

Nick Nurse said on Sunday that the main thing is that it is very unfortunately placed. He has needed to wear a brace that essentially prevents him from bending his arm so the wound can heal.

Joel Embiid and Jared McCain are both listed as OUT for tonight’s game at Cleveland, which is unsurprising on the second night of a back-to-back. Paul George and Dominick Barlow also remain out.

Jared McCain needed notes to remind him of his pregame routine. He spent his morning visualization going through his knee and thumb rehab. He trusts his shooting stroke will return. But after almost 11 months, he played NBA basketball. “It's a lot of emotion." www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixer...

Good end of game set from the Sixers. Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt. Look at all the space between half court and the 3PT line. Edgecombe/Grimes both cut right into Embiid setting a pindown for Grimes.

Sixers scored 45 points in the first quarter…and 16 in the fourth.

FINAL: Bulls 113, Sixers 111. Sixers led by as many as 24 points completely collapsed down the stretch. Could say karma coming back around after those comeback wins, but there will be lots of teaching moments from this one.

RT

Yowza.

Embiid checking back in with 5:39 to play.

Sixers' lead now down to seven, at 105-98 with about eight minutes to go. Shot-making is not as lethal as it was in the first half, but ball security has been an issue.

Sixers 95, Bulls 84 at the end of the third. Stop me if you've heard this before: The Sixers' meh third quarter allowed the Bulls to cut into that lead. Maxey with 31 points and 5 assists. Embiid with 20 points in 20 minutes, so we'll see if he gets one more stint.

Here's that four-guard look, after Watford picked up his fourth foul.

Little bit of life in the Bulls, who have cut the Sixers' lead to 12 late in the third. Offense has gotten bogged down here the last couple minutes.

No cheering on press row unless it’s for Red Panda

Halftime: Sixers 75, Bulls 56. Sixers shot 55.1 percent from the floor and 9-of-17 from long range. Maxey with 22 points and 4 assists. Embiid with 18 points in 13 minutes. McCain with two assists in his first game back. Edwards and Drummond were out of the rotation.

Red Panda is here!

First McCain stint is done. Missed both shot attempts, a corner three and a turnaround in the lane. He played alongside Edgecombe-Grimes and Maxey-Grimes.

Fan sitting behind the media seating: "He's going NUTS!" Maxey's got 20 points in 11 minutes.

Sixers 45, Bulls 27 in arguably their best, most well-rounded quarter of the season. Sixers are shooting 64 percent from the floor and 8-of-11 from three-point range. Maxey already with 12 points and 4 assists on his birthday.

Jaered McCain officially back on the floor for the first time in about 11 months. Told me in the pregame locker room that he had to look back at his notes from last season about his game day routine.