Tyrese Maxey is averaging career highs of 29 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 61 games for the 76ers.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey will be sidelined for at least three weeks because of a tendon injury on the small finger of his right hand, the team announced Tuesday.
Maxey injured his finger in Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks in a collision with teammate Adem Bona with 16 seconds remaining in the 76ers’ 126-116 loss.
The outlook had seemed a little brighter one day earlier.
Coach Nick Nurse said that Maxey’s initial tests did not show any fractures Monday ahead of the team’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Maxey, who leads the NBA with 1,767 total points, underwent X-rays and an MRI that showed there were no broken bones in his hand. The sixth-year pro already had been ruled out through Tuesday, when Philadelphia hosts Memphis.
“No breaks,” Nurse said Monday. “Now, he’s got to see the hand specialists to figure out what’s next.”
Maxey sprained the same pinky last season, which the coach admitted “adds to the concern factor.” He is averaging career highs of 29 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 61 games for the 76ers, who have fallen out of a top six playoff position into eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
“He seems OK and his spirits are good,” Nurse said. “He wants to be back, but he’s got to see these people before we take the next step.”
