The Philadelphia 76ers are currently in a first-round matchup against the Toronto Raptors where they will look to close out the series on Monday.
They will do so without their star player Joel Embiid at 100 percent. Embiid injured his right thumb in their Game 3 matchup, but has not yet been taken off the court due to his injury.
An MRI on Sunday confirmed what many believed was the case for Embiid following the injury. The five-time All-Star has torn a ligament in his thumb, and the injury will require surgery.
Luckily for 76ers fans, Embiid and the team have decided that he will play through the injury and delay his surgery until the 76ers season is done.
Many 76ers fans have certainly taken the chance to commend Embiid for his toughness to continue to give the team his all despite the injury.
if you still think he’s soft after the meniscus, after this, then you SIMPLY do not know ball https://t.co/WfyGdg5bZM
— liv – jorese embaxey supremacy (@wooleymammoth22) April 24, 2022
I hope that the @sixers can find a way to optimize Joel’s performance despite this injury. https://t.co/iGSyPYNW31
— Bill Conallen (@BConallen) April 24, 2022
https://twitter.com/KrystleRich/status/1518299063023714305
Joel Embiid will play through the torn ligament in his right thumb this season and he’ll still drop 30+ per game https://t.co/2InUXhZw6U
— Nick Petraccione (@NickPetraccione) April 24, 2022
It is certainly a frustrating situation for Embiid, who has had injury problems in the playoffs in the past, to deal with yet another nagging injury.
This may be the 76ers best chance to truly compete for a championship while Embiid has been with the team. And this could be a huge blow to those hopes.
Barring an epic collapse from the 76ers, they should be able to get past the Raptors, but a looming matchup with the top-seeded Miami Heat certainly looks less promising with a hampered Joel Embiid going forward.
[ESPN.com]
