Paul George injured his left pinky finger during Saturday’s game in Chicago and will undergo an MRI on Sunday, as noted by Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse updated the media, explaining that George jammed his finger, which led to his departure from the contest in the second quarter. He played just under 13 minutes, contributing nine points, one rebound, and one assist.
This season has been difficult for both George and the Sixers; however, Saturday’s win has brought them within one game of the Bulls for the 10th seed, which is crucial for securing the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. George’s addition during free agency raised expectations for the team to be among the league’s top contenders. Unfortunately, both he and Joel Embiid have struggled with injuries that have hindered the squad’s development.
So far this season, George has missed 14 games due to various ailments, including recurring left groin soreness that kept him out twice last week. In his debut season with Philadelphia, he has played in 30 games, averaging 17.4 points per game—over five points below his scoring output with the Clippers last year. Still, he is contributing 5.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, both of which surpass his stats from last season in Los Angeles.
Moreover, the Sixers were without five rotation players in this game, including rookie guard Jared McCain, who will miss the rest of the season following surgery on his left meniscus. Embiid is dealing with swelling in his left knee and has not been in action since January 4. Backup center Andre Drummond is healing from a left toe injury, while Caleb Martin is managing a strained right hip, and KJ Martin has been sidelined since December 23 with a stress reaction in his left foot.
Both Martins are expected to return to practice next week, with their conditions to be assessed afterward, as reported by Pompey in a detailed analysis of the game.
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