Thybulle 'ineligible to play' vs. Raptors in Toronto

The Philadelphia 76ers have ruled out swingman Matisse Thybulle for Thursday's contest against the Raptors in Toronto due to him being "ineligible to play."

The 76ers haven't specified why Thybulle is ineligible. However, Thursday's game will be Philadelphia's first in Canada since the country instituted border restrictions that require all visitors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

It's not clear if Thybulle is unvaccinated. But at the end of March, the 76ers and Boston Celtics declined to state whether their entire rosters were fully vaccinated ahead of a potential playoff series against the Raptors, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps. The Miami Heat and defending champion Milwaukee Bucks confirmed that their players were all vaccinated.

The 76ers and Raptors are on course to meet in the first round as the fourth and fifth seeds, respectively. Toronto would host Games 3 and 4 as well as a Game 6, if necessary.

Thybulle is averaging 5.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 assists in 64 games for Philadelphia this season. The third-year wing is one of the team's most talented defenders and is frequently called on to guard opponents' most prolific offensive threats.