76ers’ Paul George scores 28 points in first game back from 25-game drug suspension

By Canadian Press on March 25, 2026.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Paul George returned to the 76ers’ lineup following a 25-game suspension for a failed drug test and scored 28 points on Wednesday night in Philadelphia’s 157-137 win over Chicago.

Playing for the first time since Jan. 29 due to a violation of the NBA’s drug policy, he missed 8 of 10 field goals in the opening half and had five points, but scored 23 points in the second half.

“I felt pretty explosive, pretty strong,” George said. “I felt good.”

George was cheered throughout, especially after converting on three consecutive possessions early in the fourth quarter.

“That was bringing back classic moments in my scoring bag, where I can be explosive as a scorer and put points up quick,” he said. “That’s just me in the flow.”

George finished 11 of 22 from the field and 6 of 13 from long range.

“I think he just needed to get the feel back a little bit,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said.

George was grateful for his teammates’ support.

“They were excited for me to come back out there,” he said.

The Sixers went 13-12 in his absence and began the day at 39-33 and in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

George was suspended in late January for violating the terms of the NBA’s anti-drug program.

In his first public remarks since the suspension, George apologized Tuesday to the team, its fans and his family for the poor judgment that led to his flunked test.

“To let people down hurt more than kind of anything,” George said.

He said his choice to take a banned substance was connected to a mental health issue that developed because of an offseason knee injury that limited his production this season.

“The most difficult thing is when your body isn’t where you know it needs to be or where it once was,” George said. “That leads and bleeds into the mental side of things, knowing that you’re limited. But for me, I feel good, my body is feeling great. Mentally, I know I’m capable of doing what I can do and what I’ve been able to on the court for years.”

George entered Wednesday averaging 16 points in 27 games this season for the Sixers. He had one of his best games in the week he was suspended, a 32-point outburst fueled by nine 3-pointers in a win over Milwaukee.

The 35-year-old George signed a $212 million, four-year contract in free agency ahead of the 2024 season. But his first year in Philly was marred by knee and adductor injuries that resulted in the forward having one of the worst years of his NBA career.

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The Associated Press