Thaddeus Young out three weeks with hamstring strain

Thaddeus Young is out three weeks with a hamstring strain. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young will miss the next three weeks after suffering a hamstring strain in his left leg during the second quarter of the Sixers' win Monday night at home against the Orlando Magic.

The extent of the injury wasn't immediately known but was reported by Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com after an MRI on Tuesday morning revealed the severity of the pain, calling it a "grade one strain."

The news is obviously a setback for any player going down with an injury but especially disappointing for Philadelphia fans who watched Young come into his own this season, averaging nearly 15 points  and 7.4 rebounds in a career high 35 minutes per game.

The Sixers, currently 21-26, were primed to make a run for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The team sits three games back of the Boston Celtics, who watched Rajon Rondo go down with a season-ending ACL tear in January. In the interim, forward Evan Turner could see extended minutes at the forward position. Young's return could coincide with the debut of Andrew Bynum, who is believed to be making his Sixers debut right around the All-Star break, which is Feb. 15.