NBA: MRI confirms ligament tear in Joel Embiid’s thumb
Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up ahead of Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on April 23, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. Cole Burston/Getty Images/AFP
Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid is nursing a torn ligament in his right thumb, an MRI exam revealed on Sunday.
Sixers coach Doc Rivers wasn’t surprised by the findings, however.
“It just confirmed what we thought,” Rivers said. “Nothing changes, treatment’s the same. There literally will be no change. It’s just, we thought it was and it was, so you just keep moving on.”
ESPN reported Embiid will require surgery following the postseason.
The fourth-seeded 76ers, however, will look to eliminate the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors on Monday when the teams play Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round series in Philadelphia.
Embiid was injured during Wednesday’s 104-101 overtime win in Game 3 over the Raptors. The five-time All-Star was wearing a brace on his right hand during Saturday’s 110-102 loss to Toronto.
Over the first four games of the series, Embiid is averaging 26.0 points and 11.8 rebounds.
