The news regarding Spencer Hawes went from bad to worse Friday. Hawes is now in a walking boot, which will stabilize his strained Achilles for the next two weeks.
He is scheduled to visit Dr. Richard Ferkel at the Southern California Orthopedic Institute next Thursday and after two weeks in the boot he will again be reevaluated.
Friday night's game will mark the 17th game missed this season for the Sixers' starting center.
"It has been my experience being around the game as I have that when you put a boot on every day you wear it, it will take you about two more once you get out to get your leg back," Doug Collins said. "That's because of atrophy and you can't do strength and conditioning. They really don't want him doing much on it right now.
"When you immobilize something, especially as a professional athlete, the atrophy and how quickly things set in is really quick. I would expect him to be out a little while."
Hawes, in the 14 games he has played, averaged 10.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, while shooting 57 percent from the floor.
The fifth-year center is playing on a one year qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
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E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com