"Spencer Hawes spent the last hour before Friday night's tip-off with both of his feet plunged into a tub of ice. However, if everything goes the way he is planning he should be lacing up his Nikes instead before the next game.

Hawes, sitting out for the sixth game in a row with a strained Achilles, hopes to be able to play against Detroit at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night. If a return on Saturday doesn't work out, Hawes is targeting Monday night's game against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.

"Maybe tomorrow, but hopefully for Monday," Hawes said about his return to the lineup. "I want to put it behind me and not think about it anymore."

Hawes, the fifth-year center, was off to the best start of his career before injuring his back and Achilles. In 12 games he has averages of 10.4 points and 8.8 rebounds with a 58.8 shooting percentage. Heading into Friday night's game, the Sixers are 2-4 without Hawes in the lineup.

Meanwhile, newly signed center Francisco Elson arrived a bit jetlagged after his trip to Philadelphia from his home in The Netherlands. Elson played briefly with the Sixers in 2009-10, arriving with Jodie Meeks in the trade with Milwaukee, but spent last season playing for Utah."