It is bad enough that the Philadelphia 76ers (34-29) were unable to get a road victory over an Atlanta Hawks team (33-31) that is right behind them in the Eastern Conference standings, but they also watched their star point guard suffer a potentially concerning injury in the final minute of Saturday's game. While running for a loose ball, Tyrese Maxey collided with teammate Adem Bona. He grabbed his hand and squirmed around in visible discomfort before eventually making his way to the locker room.

Bona, who also winced in pain after absorbing contact, is listed at 6-foot-10, 235 pounds. Maxey was understandably shaken up after colliding with the Sixers big man, but fans are obviously more concerned about the hand issue.

Philly relies heavily on the explosive 25-year-old to manufacture offense. Besides averaging 28.9 points and 6.7 assists per game, he also ranks second in the NBA in total steals this season. Fans are perfectly justified in freaking out. A possibly encouraging update did come out shortly after the 125-116 loss, however.

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Maxey was eating in the locker room without sporting a visible wrap, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic. He was talking to Joel Embiid, who is enduring his own injury troubles, and “seemed to be in good spirits.” Fans cannot relax yet, but this could be a positive sign. He will undergo additional testing on his right finger on Sunday, per Jones.

Embid has played in just 33 games and Paul George is still serving a suspension for violating the NBA's Anti-Drug policy, ergo, Tyrese Maxey is far and away the most important player on this franchise right now. VJ Edgecombe is impressing in his rookie campaign, but he is not ready to occupy the top role for the 76ers. Beating the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers is a daunting task in and of itself. Philadelphia will have no chance in the playoffs without number zero.

Maxey totaled a team-high 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting to go along with five assists and four steals (also had five turnovers). Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. backed up the Philly pillar by combining for 40 points, but the squad was unable to slow down Jalen Johnson. The rapidly rising Hawks forward posted 35 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals (also had five turnovers).

Both 76ers head coach Nick Nurse and Maxey himself will ideally have information to share regarding the hand injury. This waiting period will be agonizingly long for the City of Brotherly Love.