NBA injury update: Philadelphia 76ers hit with another unfortunate news amid Joel Embiid and Paul George’s absence | NBA News
The Philadelphia 76ers face another setback at a critical stage of the NBA season. As the regular season is winding down and playoff positioning tightens in the Eastern Conference, the team received difficult news regarding All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey. The injury update arrives at a time when Philadelphia is already reeling through the absence of its biggest names.Philadelphia entered the week holding the No. 8 seed in the East with a 34-29 record. The margin in the standings remains slim, with several teams packed closely together in the race to avoid the play-in tournament. Losing a key contributor, even for a short stretch, creates a new challenge for a roster that has already dealt with multiple disruptions this season.
What happened to Tyrese Maxey?
Tyrese Maxey has been the most dependable player for Philadelphia this season. The guard has appeared in 61 games, while teammates Joel Embiid and Paul George have combined for 60 appearances. His role has been very important for the team throughout the year, and he earned an All-Star starting spot in the Eastern Conference after delivering consistent production on both ends of the floor.The 25-year-old suffered a sprained right fifth finger during Saturday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The injury occurred in the final seconds of the game when Maxey collided with teammate Adem Bona while diving for a loose ball with roughly 16 seconds remaining. He immediately grabbed his right hand in visible pain before heading to the locker room.Philadelphia later confirmed the injury in an official statement.“Tyrese Maxey suffered a sprain of the right fifth finger. He will undergo additional testing and consultation in the coming days to determine a treatment plan. He is OUT for the next two games and further updates will be provided after the back-to-back.”Maxey will miss the upcoming games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Memphis Grizzlies. The guard sprained the same finger last season, which affected his shooting rhythm after returning. This season he has averaged 29 points and 6.7 assists while shooting 37.3 percent from three-point range. When he leaves the floor, Philadelphia is outscored by 4.6 points per 100 possessions, which highlights his value to the offense.
Philadelphia 76ers’ trouble extends as Joel Embiid and Paul George are out
Maxey’s absence adds to an already difficult situation for the 76ers. Embiid remains sidelined with a right oblique strain that he sustained during a game against the Miami Heat on Feb. 26. He has already missed several games and is expected to remain out for additional time.George is also unavailable. The veteran forward is serving a 25-game suspension after violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy and will not be eligible to return until March 25.The 76ers hope Maxey’s injury proves minor. The team expects further medical evaluations in the coming days before deciding the next step in his recovery timeline.
