It was a detail that went unnoticed by most in the moment: When Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid cruelly quieted the sellout crowd at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night, making the overtime three-pointer that put the Raptors in a 3-0 series hole to the 76ers, Embiid’s right shooting thumb was sheathed in black athletic tape.
So if there was a glimmer of hope for Toronto heading into Saturday’s Game 4, it came in the form of an ESPN report that Embiid, who attended Friday’s practice with the same thumb in a soft brace, is experiencing discomfort in the digit and may require an MRI to check for potential ligament damage.