Paul George is officially off the sidelines.
The nine-time All-Star wing joined the Sixers’ starting five Monday night for the first time in the regular season, returning from a left knee bone bruise for the team’s matchup with the Suns. Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr., Caleb Martin and Andre Drummond stayed in the starting lineup.
Kyle Lowry shifted to the bench. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Friday that he envisions both Lowry and Eric Gordon playing “15, 18, 20 minutes (per game) as shooters and veteran-type players” when the Sixers are at full strength.
Nurse told reporters pregame in Phoenix that he expected George would play below his normal amount of minutes in his debut. George had been out since injuring his knee during the Sixers’ Oct. 14 preseason game against the Hawks.
“It has been completely frustrating,” he said following the Sixers’ practice Friday, “just from wanting to finally get started with these guys and using these early games to kind …