'I nearly threw up': Ben Simmons sickened by gruesome Joel Embiid injury

Warning: The following contains graphic images some viewers might find disturbing

If you have a weak stomach for gruesome sporting injuries then this one’s not for you.

Joel Embiid put NBA viewers and his teammates to the test on Tuesday (AEDT) after suffering a sickening finger injury during the first quarter of the game against Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Embiid was defending a shot at the rim by Thunder forward Darius Bazley when the horrific injury occurred.

His left ring finger overlapped his pinkie to the point that it seemed he had his fingers crossed.

"I nearly threw up when I saw that," Simmons said.

Simmons' stomach was soon settled and so were the Sixers when Embiid, hurt in the first quarter, needed nothing more than a quick trip to the locker room and some tape before he returned for the start of the second.

"I felt my finger snapping and I thought I fractured it," Embiid said.

"They did some X-rays and said it was nothing."

The All-Star centre played through the unsightly injury to score 18 points while Simmons was just two assists shy of a triple-double.

The Australian had 17 points and 15 rebounds while Josh Richardson had a team high 23 points as Philadelphia snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the Thunder 120-113.

"I'm glad he came back out," Simmons said.

"We needed him. He's a big part of this team."

Simmons had another solid game without a basket beyond 22 feet.

His only two career threes have come this season and after he made one in a December 7 win against Cleveland, coach Brett Brown implored Simmons to shoot more of them.

Brown acknowledged Simmons has disregarded his request.

"Evidently, I have failed," Brown said.

"It's something that we're all mindful and this is one of these things that is never going to go away.

"The attention that this has received is remarkable. I guess I helped fuel it."