The Philadelphia 76ers announced that All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey will miss at least the remainder of the team's back-to-back games due to a sprained right pinky finger.

At a crucial moment in the team's playoff push, this sudden injury has further exacerbated Philadelphia's already depleted roster. Maxi was injured with less than 30 seconds remaining in the 116-125 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. He collided with a teammate after attempting a steal, then clutched his right hand in pain and left the game early.

Before leaving the game, Maxi scored an efficient 31 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals on 12-of-22 shooting. He will miss Monday's away game against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Tuesday's home game against the Memphis Grizzlies, and will need to undergo further examinations to determine his subsequent treatment and return plan.

This season has undoubtedly been the peak of Maxi's career. He not only made his first Eastern Conference All-Star starter but also averaged 29.0 points and 6.7 assists per game. However, this injury may jeopardize his end-of-season award eligibility, as he is currently only 4 games short of meeting the 65-game playing requirement for awards.

Maxi's injury has plunged the 76ers into an unprecedented roster crisis. Star player Joel Embiid has been sidelined with a knee injury, missing four consecutive games; while another key player, Paul George, faces a 25-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug program.

The 76ers currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 34-29 record, trailing only the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat by 0.5 games. Having lost their key player in the intense playoff race at the end of the regular season, the 76ers' chances of making it into the top six and securing a playoff berth have significantly increased.

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