AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — For the first time this season, Nerlens Noel appeared in a game.
It didn’t take long before he was forced to exit.
Making his much-anticipated season debut Sunday night, Noel scored eight points off the bench to help the Sixers take a 58-35 lead over the Pistons through the second quarter in Detroit.
But the former first-round pick suffered a left ankle sprain and would not return.
It’s unclear when Noel may have tweaked his ankle, but there was a scare with less than a minute remaining in first quarter when he took a hard foul and fell awkwardly.
“It’s a tough little break, but it’s a minor thing so I’ll probably be back by next game,” Noel said postgame.
Philadelphia 76ers
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia 76ers and their rivals in the NBA from NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Noel remained on the ground for nearly a minute before returning to his feet and sinking both free throws to help the Sixers take a 20-point lead into the second quarter. He limped to the Sixers bench, but returned to the floor in the second quarter where he played an additional seven minutes.
Noel, who missed the first 23 regular-season games after undergoing elective knee surgery in late October, came off the bench with no minute restriction, and immediately put his athleticism and strength on display.
“It felt good," Noel said of his first game back. "You know, this is what I’ve been preparing for all summer and through the rehab process, so you know, it felt great to get out there.
Sixers coach Brett Brown said prior to tip-off that Noel’s playing time would be dictated by several factors, namely fatigue.
