Basketball: Top pick helped from court

Markelle Fultz of the Philadelphia 76ers in action against Golden State. Photo / Getty Images

No.1 overall pick Markelle Fultz needed to be helped off the court with an injury to his left ankle in Philadelphia's summer league game Sunday against Golden State.

Fultz appeared to roll his ankle in the second half and was helped to the locker room by two teammates.

Sixers summer league coach Lloyd Pierce said Fultz has been diagnosed with a sprained left ankle and "will be treated accordingly."

Fultz will not play Monday, but there is no timetable for his return to action.

"We'll be as cautious as we can, making sure he's healthy," Pierce said.

It was the last thing the Sixers wanted to see just when they appeared to be ready to put years of misery behind them. They have dealt with significant injuries to center Joel Embiid and last year's No. 1 pick, Ben Simmons, over the last three years.

"Oh no no no," Embiid tweeted , "don't do this to us."

Fultz, who signed his contract earlier in the day, was taken for X-rays. The former Washington star had eight points in 15 minutes.

"I'm a little bit punch-drunk with the injuries that we've had with our first players selected over the years," 76ers coach Brett Brown said during the ESPN telecast.

But Pierce said he was trying not to look at it that way.

"It's easy to put that on the history that we've gone through, but no, it's just part of the game," Pierce said.