Embiid aims to delay potential thumb surgery until after playoffs

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid believes that if his injured thumb requires surgery, he'll wait to undergo the procedure in the offseason, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.

"It's painful," Embiid said Saturday after Philadelphia's Game 4 loss to the Toronto Raptors, according to John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia. "In basketball, you have to use your hands a lot."

Embiid admitted his injury affected his shooting, passing, and rebounding. The 28-year-old finished the game with 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting along with eight rebounds in just under 40 minutes.

An MRI is scheduled for Sunday when the team returns to Philadelphia ahead of Game 5. The 76ers have officially listed the injury as a thumb sprain.

Head coach Doc Rivers admitted before the contest that he isn't overly optimistic about the ailment.

Embiid also revealed he was also feeling sick during the first two games, Clark adds.

"I fought through it, Embiid said. "It's the playoffs. Nothing is going to stop me."