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Tim BontempsESPN
TORONTO — An initial examination of Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel EmbiidSources indicated that the injury to the right thumb of the victim suggested that there was ligament damage. However, an MRI will still be required to determine the extent of the injury.
Rivers told the 76ers that they felt it wasn’t a major injury. Toronto RaptorsOn Saturday, they will play Game 4 in the Eastern Conference playoffs series at Scotiabank Arena.
On Friday, Wojnarowski and Shelburne were informed by sources that Embiid felt significant pain in his thumb and could have an MRI in the near-term to check for ligament damage.
Rivers indicated that Embiid should have an MRI upon his return to Philadelphia after Saturday’s game.
Rivers replied, “Yeah. Rivers said, “I think we know what it is, to tell the truth, but we need to confirm.” However, there is no other treatment.
Rivers said that Embiid cannot injure his thumb by playing.
He replied, “Yeah. There’s concern.” “But, you’re right, it’s what it is.
“The one thing that we all know is…” [is] it can’t get worse.”
Embiid was out for his pregame shooting routine approximately 45 minutes before tipoff. He got up shots with a wrap around the thumb and some dribbling using his right hand, but often catching passes with both his left and right.
Embiid seemed to sustain the injury, which the team called a right thumb sprain. This happened in Philadelphia’s 104-101% victory over Toronto in Game 3. Embiid scored the game-winning 3 pointer with less that a second remaining. The 76ers recovered from a 17-point deficit in the first half by scoring 28 of his 33 points in overtime and the second half.
He arrived at his press conference almost two hours after the end of the game wearing a brace on the right (shooting hand) and his right thumb taped.
After Wednesday’s win, Embiid stated that he didn’t know the exact cause of the victory. “But, I just started to feel pain and think that I may have twisted it. We’ll see what happens. [Thursday].”
When asked if his injury might affect Game 4, Embiid replied, “No. No chance.”
Embiid was happy to be at practice Friday. He had his brace on his left hand.
Toronto, in contrast, has a standout rookie forward Scottie BarnesHe was forced to miss the last two games because of a left ankle injury that he sustained in Game 1.
Barnes was awarded the Rookie Of The Year award. Barnes had previously been listed as questionable to play.
Barnes did a brief workout before going back to the locker room. Nick Nurse, Raptors coach said Barnes, who was injured in Game 1, had 15 points, 10 boards and 8 assists before he returned to the locker room.
Nurse stated that she would believe that he will be alright if they cleared him. “It wasn’t too serious… so if they remove them, I’d imagine he’ll play outside.”
“I mean, obviously he has to try it. If he fails to feel the same way after clearing him, he will be finished for the night. If he is feeling OK, and adrenaline starts pumping, and he gets out there, then we’ll give him as long as he can.
If Philadelphia can close out the series Saturday, it will mark the team’s first sweep of a playoff series in 1991 and its first sweep of a four-game playoff series in 1985, when Charles Barkley was with the team. Julius Erving Moses MaloneAll three were still teammates with the 76ers.