The past few days have been good for Philadelphia sports. On Saturday, the 76ers, a team riddled with injuries, claimed an imperative win against the Chicago Bulls to head closer to a play-in spot. Then, a day later, the Philadelphia Eagles bulldozed their way into the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons. However, while some Sixers players enjoyed the victory, some serious concerns about Paul George came to the forefront.

Ailments has marred the veteran forward who signed a max extension with the franchise in the offseason. His latest came against the Bulls once Saturday. He “jammed” his finger in an attempt to rebound against Nikola Vucevic. PG13 didn’t feature in the second half of the game, sparking some worry about another possible star being added to the Sixers’ injury list. And well, those concerns have amplified after a recent spotting.

Right after the Eagles claimed a ticket to the Super Bowl, Paul George drove across Broad Street. Obviously, a hoard of fans surrounded him, mostly celebrating their NFL success. However, some fans made a key observation. George had a brace around his left pinky finger. It’s not as alarming as it seems. It could be a routine precaution to prevent aggravating the damage caused.

But the times are sensitive indeed. After the important win against the Bulls, Nick Nurse revealed George would have an MRI on Sunday, the results of which are still pending. For a team sitting at 17-27, each win holds extreme significance by moving forward. The Philadelphia 76ers fans will only hope that George doesn’t have a major setback that could put him out of action as well.

The Sixers’ list of injuries includes Jared McCain (out for the season), Joel Embiid, KJ Martin, and Caleb Martin.

A challenging schedule awaits the Philadelphia 76ers

Health has never been more important for the Philadelphia 76ers than at this point. Aside from George’s update, the franchise will also have some news about Joel Embiid. The MVP-caliber center has missed their last 11 games. It started with a left foot sprain, which was followed by his chronic knee injury acting up once again.

The series of injuries have been costly for Nick Nurse and the Sixers who have tried to navigate through adversity. Now, with another two days to rest, they will hope for positive updates on all fronts. Why? The next four games for the franchise could be make-or-break and their opposition is some of the hottest teams in the league.

They start a six-game home stand against the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that is currently on a three-game winning streak. Their next three games are against the Denver Nuggets, the Sacramento Kings, and the defending champs Boston Celtics. These teams have a .500 or better record before facing the depleted 76ers side.

While Tyrese Maxey is the everlasting ray of hope, the Sixers need far more than a one-man show during this stretch. Kelly Oubre Jr. has regularly delivered some supreme performances during the advent of the injury plague. But at the least, Nurse will hope to have Paul George in his corner during the grueling schedule that awaits the team.

The East is a lot more forgiving at this point in the season. The Sixers are still within reach to have a chance at making the postseason. However, a four-game losing run could severely wound their chances of doing so. Fortunately, George’s injury is on his non-shooting hand, so it shouldn’t be a nuisance.

However, if the MRI results don’t go in their favor, it could mean two-thirds of their ‘Big 3’ being absent during this pivotal stretch.