https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28437359/joel-embiid-questionable-vs-celtics-dislocating-finger 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.
"That's a possibility," Embiid said after finishing with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists in 32 minutes. "I want to play. It's a big game. Last time we played them, we had great success, but at the end of the day, whatever they want me to do. Obviously, I'll try to fight it, but they care about me, so whatever they want to do. ... We'll see."
The finger became an issue early in the game, when he began flexing his left hand midway through the first quarter. Eventually, he went back to the locker room to get it checked out. Embiid said that at that point, he felt his finger "snapping, and I thought I fractured it."
After he received X-rays and was cleared, he returned to the game. Then, after coming in and again clearly being in discomfort, he went to guard Thunder center Steven Adams in the post and quickly turned away, signaling for a timeout. His ring finger was pointing in a direction it was not supposed to be.
"I came back in, and then it just happened," Embiid said. "It was unfortunate."
After again going to the locker room, Embiid returned at the start of the second quarter with his middle and ring fingers taped together and checked back into the game. That sight was a relief to the Sixers, who saw Embiid's finger and initially were concerned it could be a serious injury.