Joel Embiid questionable for Thursday’s game against Boston Celtics

During Monday night’s Sixers game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Joel Embiid dislocated his ring finger on his left hand. Embiid quickly left the court after the injury only to return momentarily with his finger taped up. But as easy as that sounds, Embiid could actually miss time due to the injury, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN:

Joel Embiid said he could miss Thursday’s showdown with the Boston Celtics after dislocating his left ring finger in the first quarter of Monday night’s 120-113 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Wells Fargo Center.

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When Embiid came to the podium for his postgame interview after meeting with the team’s doctor, he wasn’t wearing anything on his left hand or finger. Embiid said the evaluation was about the ligaments in his finger.

“They were just talking about the ligament,” Embiid said. “They’re still figuring out what’s next.”

Dislocations, as far as I, not a doctor, understand them, can sometimes be pesky injuries. Aside from the obvious immediate discomfort, a soreness can persist for a long period of time following a dislocation. The Sixers could certainly use Joel Embiid against the Boston Celtics, who are 8-2 in their last 10 games and don’t look now but have just 3 more losses (7 less wins) than the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks. That’s a home game against a rival following what’s been a shaky two weeks for Philly. But they absolutely do not want this injury nagging Embiid any longer than it has to — resting Jo may be the only option.

Fortunately for Embiid and the Sixers, the game against the Celtics is on Thursday, giving Embiid two full days rest in between games. If he is going to play, the timing could certainly be worse. Had the Celtics game been the second of a back-to-back, it’s much more likely Embiid is out for it.