The Philadelphia 76ers received some tough news ahead of their road matchup with the Toronto Raptors on Thursday when they found out that Matisse Thybulle would be ineligible to play.
This is due to the fact that Canada has a rule that one has to be fully vaccinated to enter the country starting on Jan. 15. Thybulle played in Philadelphia’s first contest in Toronto back on Dec. 28 before the rule came into effect.
As the Sixers prepared for the Raptors on Thursday, coach Doc Rivers was asked about the issue with Thybulle and reacted accordingly. He focused on the fact that it is just one game, but the Sixers and the Raptors look like they will face off in the playoffs so they will need Thybulle for Games 3 and 4.
Doc on if there’s any optimism that Thybulle’s situation could be different in two weeks (when a possible first-round Game 3/4 could be played in a Toronto): “We’ll find that out in two weeks.” https://t.co/hFiRxaAOct
— Gina Mizell (@ginamizell) April 7, 2022
For what it’s worth, the Sixers have a 46.7% chance at finishing as the No. 4 seed and the Raptors have an 89.8% chance at finishing as the No. 5 seed per basketball-reference. This is the most likely scenario for the Sixers in the playoffs.
Veteran Danny Green, who will most likely start in place of Thybulle, also chimed in as he expressed some disappointment with the situation.
More Green: "I’m not happy about it. It is an opportunity for myself and other guys to get more minutes on the road with James [Harden] and other rotations, but I think we’re a better team when we’re whole and we have everybody."
— Gina Mizell (@ginamizell) April 7, 2022
The Sixers and the Raptors will tipoff at 7:30 p.m. EDT from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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