76ers’ De’Anthony Melton Set to Miss Stretch of Games

Lately, the Philadelphia 76ers have had multiple players in and out of the lineup due to injuries. The starting shooting guard, De’Anthony Melton, has been a frequent name popping up on the team’s injury report.

Through the first stretch of the season, Melton went 27 games without an absence. On December 22, he missed his first game of the season as the Sixers defeated the Toronto Raptors with a ten-point victory.

Melton’s absence was short-lived, as he returned the following game. Throughout the Sixers’ four-game road stretch to close out 2023, Melton averaged 15 points, five rebounds, and three steals. When the Sixers made their 2024 debut against the Chicago Bulls, Melton was back on the injury report.

Dealing with lumbar spine soreness, Melton missed several consecutive games, including matchups against the New York Knicks, Utah Jazz, and the Bulls. During the team’s January 10 matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, Melton was back on the floor for a 21-minute shift.

In the following game, Melton started once again, picking up 25 minutes of action. When the Sixers returned to the court on Monday afternoon to host the Houston Rockets, Melton was again ruled inactive due to back soreness.

The trend continued on Tuesday night, as the Sixers faced the Denver Nuggets for the second matchup of a back-to-back. While Melton was initially viewed as day-by-day, the Sixers placed a timeline on his absence as his injury concerns linger.

According to a team official, Melton will miss the Sixers’ next three games, including Tuesday’s, as a result of a lumbar spine stress response.

In addition to missing the Nuggets matchup, Melton won’t get the nod to face the Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets. After the Sixers’ current weekly slate of games, the Sixers will re-evaluate the veteran guard’s situation. Considering there’s no exact timeline for his return, the length of Melton’s absence is currently unclear.