It was not a good sight for the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter when superstar big man Joel Embiid was doubled in a lot of pain. The big man was dealing with a dislocated finger that caused him to leave the game, return, and then leave again before coming back out with it taped.
His toughness to battle through it helped the Sixers knock off the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-113 at home and snap a frustrating four-game losing skid. Embiid scored 18 points with nine rebounds and eight assists to lead the way as he showed off what a leader should be.
After it was all over, he explained the injury.
“I think it happened a couple of plays earlier,” he said. “I felt my finger-snapping and I thought that I fractured it. I went in the locker room, I did some X-Rays and they said it was nothing. It was just unfortunate.”
Before he addressed the media, he did undergo more treatment on the injury and it caused some concern for the Sixers.
“They’re going to figure out what next,” he added.
Embiid also did mention that he could miss Thursday’s game with the Boston Celtics.
“It’s a possibility,” he said. “I want to play, it’s a big game. Last time we played them, we had great success, but then again, whatever they want me to do, obviously I try to fight it, but they care about me. Whatever they want me to do I guess.”
Philadelphia will need Embiid to be at his best for when the playoffs roll around so considering that it is just January and the season isn’t even halfway done just yet. There’s a strong possibility that the Sixers take it slow with the big man and hold him out.
Philadelphia needed this win on Monday though and he led the way. So for a night at least, the big man can be praised for being the tough leader he’s meant to be. [lawrence-related id=22862,22845,22828]