Sixers Could Get Major Reinforcement vs. Detroit Pistons on Tuesday

The Philadelphia 76ers have upgraded the playing status of one of their veteran guards.

Dec 27, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris (12) and small guard | Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

At last, the Philadelphia 76ers are getting healthier. While the injury report remains crowded heading into the Tuesday night matchup against the Detroit Pistons, most of the Sixers’ recent setbacks are minor.

For the veteran guard De’Anthony Melton, he’s been dealing with a notable back injury for quite some time. On Tuesday, Melton could finally make his return after getting shut down due to lumbar spine bone stress.

Melton’s injury concerns started back in January. After he checked in for 26 minutes against the Chicago Bulls during the final game of 2023, Melton missed the first three games of the new year. On January 10, he returned to action to take on the Atlanta Hawks.

Across two games, Melton started and checked in for over 20 minutes. After a 25-minute shift against the Sacramento Kings on January 12, Melton was ruled out against the Houston Rockets. He ended up missing a large chunk of time.

After missing 18 games in a row, Melton returned to the court to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 23. With the Sixers easing him back, Melton collected a role off the bench, and checked in for just 16 minutes in his first game back.

During the Sixers’ February 27 matchup against the Boston Celtics on the road, Melton checked out after seeing the court for nine minutes off the bench. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game due to back spasms. That ended up being the last time Melton saw the court for the Sixers.

When the Sixers faced the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night, Melton missed his 21st game during his current stretch of absences. While Melton has remained with the team, even on the road, there wasn’t a target date in place for his return.

Tuesday’s outing at home against Detroit could be an opportunity for Melton to get back into the swing of things before the Sixers embark on a potential postseason run. While Melton might not garner a starting role after appearing in the starting lineup for 33 games this year, his two-way value would be useful for the Sixers even in a limited role, depending on how he’s feeling physically.

The Sixers and the Pistons are scheduled for a 7 PM ET tip on Tuesday. Melton could be a game-time decision for the matchup.