The 2022 NBA playoffs are offering up another appetizing slate of games Saturday.
The Philadelphia 76ers have the opportunity to wrap up their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors, but not without adversity. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that star center Joel Embiid is experiencing significant pain in his right thumb and may undergo an MRI to determine if he suffered any ligament damage.
Philadelphia leads the series 3-0. No team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series.
“I’m coming for the sweep,” Embiid said.
The Nets host the Celtics for Game 3 in Brooklyn and may have Ben Simmons in the lineup soon. Boston leads the series 2-0. The Timberwolves are looking to bounce back in Game 4 in Minnesota from a total collapse against the Grizzles. Memphis leads 2-1.
Saturday’s action is rounded out by Game 4 in Utah between the Jazz and Mavericks, who are likely to be without Luka Doncic. Dallas leads the series 2-1.
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Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul Reed (44) battles for the ball with Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher (25) during the second quarter.
Check out USA TODAY Sports’ analysis from all of Saturday’s action:
Quick takeaways from Toronto’s Game 4 victory
Toronto is still down in the series but not out. The Raptors evaded elimination with a 110-102 victory in Game 4. Trailing 3-1, Game 5 is Monday (8 p.m. ET, NBA TV).
Raptors forward Pascal Siakam has re-emerged as a star – and he delivered with playoff career-high 34 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal. Toronto doesn’t win without that performance.
This game was not pretty at all, but in the playoffs, beauty points aren’t always necessary. The Raptors made use of 13 second-chance points and 22 points off turnovers to overcome 23.5% shooting on 3-pointers.
Sixers center Joel Embiid clearly wasn’t himself with that injured right (shooting) thumb. He was 7-for-16 from the field with 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
Story continues
Philadelphia guard James Harden had 22 points, nine assists, five rebounds, three blocks and a steal but was just 5-for-17 shooting from the field.
The beat-up Raptors sustained another injury: guard Fred VanVleet left the game in the second quarter with a strained left hip and did not return.
Danny Green (2-for-10) and Tyrese Maxey (5-for-16) were a combined 27% from the field offsetting Tobias Harris’ 15 points (7-for-12 shooting) and 11 rebounds.
Lebron James vows to never miss the playoffs again
LeBron James is watching the playoffs at home for only the fourth time in his 19-year career after the Los Angeles Lakers failed to even make it to the play-in tournament. James took to Twitter, sharing that watching from the sidelines hurts.
“I can/will NOT miss the post season again for my career! This (expletive) HURT,” he tweeted on Friday, in between his playoff takes. “Ok back to watching these games.”
James missed the playoffs in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, in addition to the 2018-19 and 2021-22 season with the Lakers.
Raptors lost Fred VanVleet to injury in first half
Injuries and illness have hurt the Raptors in this series, and guard Fred VanVleet went to the locker room with 4:57 left in the second quarter with a left hip strain. He ripped his jersey as he left the court. The Raptors said he will not return.
After missing all five of his shot attempts in the first quarter, the Sixers’ Joel Embiid, who has a right (shooting) thumb injury, made three of his five attempts in the second quarter. He has eight points and three rebounds. James Harden leads all Sixers in points (12) and assists (5). Tobias Harris chipped in nine points.
Luka Doncic back in lineup for Mavericks in Game 4
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic returned for the crucial game 4 against the Utah Jazz after missing the past three games with a left calf strain
When asked if Doncic is on a minutes restriction, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said, “Well, he’s not going to play the whole game. Less than 48 minutes.”
Joel Embiid struggles in first quarter
Embiid missed all five of his first-quarter shot attempts and had just one point, two rebounds and one assists in 11 minutes, 42 seconds of action in the opening quarter against Toronto in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
It was 24-24 after one quarter.
“I think he’s fine,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers told TNT between quarters. “Obviously, he’s going to struggle with it a little bit. He’s got to get used to it, too. He’s never played with it. I think we’re both going to learn a lot – what he can do and what he can’t do.”
It’s an interesting development worth watching not only in this game but the rest of the playoffs.
Raptors’ Scottie Barnes named Rookie of the Year
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes has been named NBA Rookie of the Year, beating out Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley and Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons. Barnes won the award by 15 total points over Mobley, the smallest margin of victory under the current voting format.
Barnes averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 74 games this season and shot 49% from the field. Barnes, 20, was the fourth overall pick by Toronto in the 2021 NBA draft out of Florida State.
Luka Doncic listed as questionable
Luka Doncic is listed as questionable for Game 4 in Utah. Coach Jason Kidd said Doncic is “going in the right direction,” but will be a game time decision.
Doncic has been sidelined the entire first-round series so far after he suffered a left calf strain during the regular-season finale against the San Antonio Spurs earlier this month. After dropping the series opener, the Mavericks have won the last two games, thanks to Jalen Brunson with 41 points in Game 2 and 31 more in Game 3.
Injuries piling up for contenders
Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid is dealing with a right thumb injury. Phoenix’s Devin Booker and Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton likely will miss the rest of their first-round series and perhaps some second-round games.
And now, Miami’s Kyle Lowry is bothered by a left hamstring injury sustained in the third quarter of Atlanta’s Game 3 victory against the Heat. Lowry left the game with 1:59 remaining in the third quarter and did not return.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs 2022 Saturday live updates: Raptors stay alive with win
