Forward Dominick Barlow met with a specialist on Tuesday to assess the back injury which has prevented him from suiting up for the Sixers this fall. Head coach Nick Nurse told reporters on Wednesday that Barlow “still has a little bit of time to wait,” but the team is pretty confident his injury is improving (Twitter link via Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports).

Nurse estimated that Barlow would need another 10-to-12 days before he’s cleared for on-court activities, per Bodner. That suggests the 23-year-old, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, will likely be out at least a couple more weeks.

Barlow’s official injury designation is low back stress reaction. He was previously diagnosed with a lumbar bone spine stress response.

Here are a few more injury-related updates from around the NBA:

• Sixers center Adem Bona suffered a neck injury during Wednesday’s win in Detroit, but Nurse said he appeared to be “OK” after the game, tweets Kris Rhim of ESPN. However, the third-year big man has officially been listed as doubtful for Friday’s game in Cleveland, with an injury designation of cervical spine strain, as Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports relays (via Twitter). Philadelphia is already missing Barlow and Ariel Hukporti, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in the preseason.
• All-NBA forward Jalen Johnson, who has missed the Hawks’ past two games with a left ankle sprain, is considered questionable for Friday’s NBA Cup opener vs. Washington, according to Brad Rowland of Locked on Hawks (Twitter link). While Johnson has a chance to return to action, Atlanta will still be quite thin in the froncourt, as Asa Newell has been ruled out after being diagnosed with a left great toe hyperextension and Jock Landale will miss his third straight game with a left hip strain. The Hawks also have Mouhamed Gueye (left foot fracture) and Henri Veesaar (right ACL tear) recovering from long-term injuries.
• Spanish forward/center Santi Aldama appears likely to make his 2026/27 — and Mavericks — debut on Friday, tweets Grant Afseth of Dallas Sports Journal. Aldama, who has been sidelined since March following right knee surgery, is listed as probable for the home game against Utah. Head coach Dusty May said Aldama was “very, very close” to returning after being held out of Wednesday’s contest.
• Kings center Dylan Cardwell made his season debut in Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers, notes James Ham of ESPN 1320 (Twitter link). The second-year big man, who suffered a calf strain during the preseason, finished with four points, six rebounds and a steal in 13 minutes.