Jaylen Brown Injured, Latest Updates on 76ers Star's Knee, Return Timeline

Philadelphia 76ers star Jaylen Brown will sit out Friday night's NBA Cup opener against the New York Knicks with a left knee injury.

Brown was listed as out with left patellar tendinopathy Friday afternoon by the Sixers.

Head coach Nick Nurse said Brown first reported left knee soreness after Wednesday's game at the Indiana Pacers before sitting out Friday's shootaround, per Adam Aaronson of the Philly Voice.

When asked how concerned the team was about Brown's injury, Nurse said, "I just know that he can't play tonight."

The Knicks and Sixers are scheduled to tip off Friday evening's group stage game at 7:30 p.m. ET in Philadelphia.

Dean Wade is likely to start in Brown's place against the Knicks, Nurse told reporters (h/t Aaronson).

The Sixers have less than 24 hours off after Friday's contest before tipping off a Saturday evening road game at the Charlotte Hornets.

Both LeBron James and Joel Embiid were listed as available for Friday's game despite sitting out opposite halves of the Sixers' first back-to-back of the season on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25.

Depending on Brown's status and James and Embiid's rest patterns, the 76ers could potentially be without a majority of their starting lineup for the Halloween night game in Charlotte.

Brown sat out a total of 11 regular-season games last season with the Boston Celtics, although he never missed more than two games at a time.

The 30-year-old has averaged 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals in his first five contests since he was traded from the Celtics this offseason. That included 19 points and eight rebounds in the Sixers' season-opening win at the Knicks back on Oct. 20.

Brown most recently played 34 minutes at the Pacers, recording his first Sixers double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to the Sixers' victory.

The Sixers are beginning the NBA Cup in East Group B, which features the defending in-season and postseason champion Knicks as well as three other title hopefuls in the Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. After tonight's matchup, the 76ers' next NBA Cup game will take place Nov. 6 at the Cavaliers.