During the third quarter of the Philadelphia 76ers' matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sixers forward Dominick Barlow was helped to the locker room after suffering a hard fall.
Barlow landed awkwardly on the court after being blocked by Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley. Initially holding his lower back, Barlow was in clear pain, writhing until he was eventually helped off the court to the locker room by Andre Drummond and another teammate.
Shortly after Barlow sustained the injury, a team official announced he would not return to the game, calling it a "back contusion."
Barlow has been among the many surprise storylines for the Sixers this season. Signing a two-way contract when joining the team, Barlow forced his way into the starting lineup with a blend of hustle, athleticism, and high-IQ play, establishing himself as Philadelphia's best option at starting power forward.
The 22-year-old forward has averaged 8.5 points and 5.2 rebounds through 28 games coming into this matchup.
Barlow missed nine consecutive games early in the season due to a laceration, and the team sorely missed his presence. Losing Barlow a second time would prove difficult, especially as Philadelphia only recently returned to full health.
After the game, the Sixers' head coach told the media that Barlow had undergone X-rays, which came back clean, and that the next step would be an MRI tomorrow.
Check back at phillysportsnetwork.com for an update on Barlow and the latest on all things Philly Sports.
