Injured Sixers don't ordinarily speak with the media, so the fact that Markelle Fultz spoke Wednesday in London for the first time in nearly two months could be a good sign of his availability.
Fultz has been nursing a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Sixers' last 34 games. In an Instagram story Tuesday, he revealed he has a surprise coming but obviously wouldn't say what it was.
Could that surprise be Fultz's returning to the Sixers in time for their game against the Celtics in London Thursday? As of Sunday, Brett Brown did not expect to have Fultz back by Thursday, but we've all seen again this season how quickly news changes with the Sixers and injuries.
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"It's a great feeling. Everything's moving in the right direction. My shoulder's feeling better," Fultz said. "As far as me getting back on the court, it's a day-to-day thing. Just working as hard as I can."
Fultz didn't go any deeper than that.
On Sunday, Fultz went through full-contact 5-on-5 in practice for the first time since he's been sidelined, also a major sign his return will come soon. If it's not in London, it could very well be next Monday at home against the Raptors.
Following the London game, the Sixers play just once over the next six days, so this would be an ideal time for Fultz to be eased back in with all the days of rest in between games.