Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid caught a break by not catching a break, but he might end up missing Thursday’s matchup with the Boston Celtics just the same.
Embiid dislocated a finger against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 6, but was able to tape it up and return to the game to secure a much-needed win for the recently-floundering franchise.
He underwent additional testing on Tuesday after hinting the injury — which was bothering him while he rebounded — might force him to sit out the 76ers’ Jan. 9 meeting with Boston.
With the Celtics winless over their Atlantic Division rival, an Embiid-less Philadelphia would go a long way to removing the team’s biggest obstacle to a victory Thursday.
Especially with news rookie defensive nightmare Matisse Thybulle may return from injury to make the contest.
The Celtics should be at full health for the game save for centers Robert Williams III (left hip bone edema) and Vincent Poirier (broken finger), with All-NBA point guard Kemba Walker and Romeo Langford having missed the team’s loss to the Washington Wizards Jan. 6 with illness.
