George Hill works out before Sixers’ game vs. Celtics; Doc Rivers says still no definite timetable for his return

BOSTON — George Hill is with the 76ers during their four-game road trip that started Tuesday night against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.

The point guard, who is rehabilitating a right thumb injury, shot the ball at Tuesday morning’s shootaround and worked out before that night’s game at TD Garden. But Sixers fans expecting to see him play on this road trip that includes stops at the New Orleans Pelicans (Friday), Oklahoma City Thunder (Saturday), and Dallas Mavericks (Monday) are out of luck.

“There’s no timetable that I know of to be honest,” Doc Rivers said of the player the team acquired on March 25 from the Thunder in a three-team trade. “I can’t see it anytime soon, honestly just with that injury.”

On March 29, Rivers said the Sixers hope to have a 10-game window or more to get Hill acclimated with the team before the playoffs.

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The coach had the same injury during his NBA playing career. It is described as a mallet finger injury. Also known as a “baseball finger,” it can occur when a ball bends a finger backward and injures a tendon, according to orthoinfo.org.

“That’s not anything you mess around with,” Rivers said. “Just one whack, you may not get injured, but the pain is excruciating, because your nerves are so raw. So we are going to try to be as tentative as possible.”

Hill hasn’t played in a game since Jan 24, which was 10 weeks ago. The 34-year-old had surgery on his right thumb on Feb. 2. Even when he does return, conditioning will be a factor. During Tuesday’s pregame workout, his fatigue became noticeable as the workout progressed. That’s expected, considering he hasn’t played in months.

Rivers suffered his injury during the playoffs, and played with the pain before having surgery during that offseason.

“It’s took quite awhile, honestly,” Rivers said of his recovery, which lasted around a month. “More when you got back, that first half of the year, you’re fine, you’re healthy, but the pain of every time [you dribble]. Unfortunately you’re a guard that dribbles the ball. So the chance of not getting hit in the hand is zero.

“So that will be his next step. Once he starts playing … that pain part it’s going to be difficult for him. So it has to do that.”

For now, Rivers said Hill has been great at the Sixers’ shootaround.

The 13th-year veteran has been standing like one of the coaches, absorbing information.

“He’s actually making points defensively to some of our young guys,” Rivers said.

The Sixers play to win no matter who’s on the court.

“But having Joe back is obviously a game changer,” Shake Milton said following Tuesday’s shootaround for that night’s game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.

“Everything that he brings, his leadership skills, all of that has been missed,” Milton added. “So we’re just excited to have the whole team back, and go out there and get some Ws.”

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Tuesday marked Embiid’s second game back from being sidelined with a left knee bone bruise. The four-time All-Star center had 24 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks in the Sixers’ 122-113 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center.

Showing some rust, he shot 6 for 14 while missing all four of his three-point attempts and committing four turnovers in 28 minutes, 35 seconds. He also went 12 for 17 from the foul line. Embiid sat out Sunday’s 116-100 home setback to the Memphis Grizzlies.