"Possibility" Sixers' center Joel Embiid could miss matchup with the Celtics this Thursday

Sixers center Joel Embiid could miss matchup with the Celtics this Thursday night. Photo via Bill Stericher

In a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder last night, 76er's all-star center Joel Embiid had a pretty nasty looking finger injury on a defensive play late in the first quarter.

I feel like Joel Embiid’s finger probably shouldn’t look like this pic.twitter.com/BaNde7t7Nh

— Dave Loughran (@Loughy_D) January 7, 2020

The injury was not too serious, as Joel ended up returning to the game in which he finished with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists in 33 minutes of play. However, according to Embiid himself, team doctors seemed concerned about the ligaments in the dislocated finger and that there is a chance it could cause him to sit out the Sixers' homecourt matchup with the Boston Celtics this Thursday night.

Joel Embiid said the doctors were checking out the ligaments in his dislocated finger. Says there is a “possibility” he won’t play Thursday against the Celtics. He doesn’t have anything on his finger now as he talks postgame.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) January 7, 2020

I personally hope Embiid does end up playing so that way there are no excuses from the Sixers or their fans if the Celtics do win. However, I would be lying if I said Joel's absence does not tip the odds of the game in favor of a healthy Celtics team. In the last matchup between the heated conference rivals, the 25-year-old big man scored 38 points in the TD Garden to go along with 13 rebounds and 6 assists, all leading to a 115-109 win for Philadelphia. The Sixers have won both matchups with the Celtics thus far this season.

Before heading to Philly, the Celtics have to remain focused on their next home matchup with the San Antonio Spurs which will take place in Boston tomorrow night (1/8) at 7 p.m. eastern time. After a pretty embarrassing loss to a Washington Wizards team that was literally half injured, Boston (who has missed Kemba Walker in the last couple of games due to illness) will look to get back on the right track with a win before Thursday night's primetime matchup.

You can follow Thomas Desmond on Twitter @td_654.