76ers G Butler to see specialist for injured wrist

The sprained wrist that has kept Philadelphia 76ers guard Jimmy Butler from playing the past two games will be examined by a specialist in Los Angeles on Friday, the team announced. Butler, who has averaged 19.0 points in 28 games since Philadelphia acquired him in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, last played Saturday at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 18 points in 38 minutes in a 117-115 loss. He did not suit up in victories against the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs this week.

The 76ers are scheduled to play at Denver on Saturday. Winners of five of their past six games, the 76ers entered play Friday with a 32-17 record and are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Butler, who had surgery on his right hand this past offseason, is expected to rejoin the team in Denver, but his playing status remains unknown.

"It's a confirmation that things are OK," 76ers head coach Brett Brown said of the visit to the specialist. "It's far more precautionary than stuff that people are, sort of, overly worried about." Philadelphia is 23-11 since Butler joined the team on Nov. 14. He has been inactive for six games in that span, with the 76ers going 4-2 in those games.

Center Joel Embiid also is expected to be absent for Saturday's game at Denver with a planned day of rest. Embiid was named Thursday as a starter from the Eastern Conference for the Feb. 17 All-Star Game at Charlotte, N.C. The game against the Nuggets, currently second in the Western Conference at 31-15, is the beginning of a four-game western swing for the 76ers that also has stops at Los Angeles against the Lakers, followed by Golden State and Sacramento.

--Field Level Media