Joel Embiid sustained a sinus fracture during the Philadelphia 76ers’ 121-107 defeat against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. This injury adds to a growing list of challenges the star player has faced throughout his career.
The incident occurred just before halftime when Embiid was contesting a defensive rebound. He was caught off guard, receiving an errant forearm and elbow from Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin, causing him to collapse to the court while play continued.
After the hit, Embiid remained on the ground near the Philadelphia bench, visibly in pain and holding his face. The team’s medical staff quickly ruled him out for the remainder of the game due to “impact to the right side of the face” and indicated that he would undergo further evaluations.
In the 17 and a half minutes he played, Embiid managed to score 12 points, grab four rebounds, and dish out five assists. Unfortunately, his performance was overshadowed by the team’s loss and his injury.
This game marked just his sixth appearance out of 23 for the season, as he has been dealing with swelling in his left knee and faced a three-game suspension earlier this season due to an incident with a reporter.
Embiid’s injury history is concerning, with previous face injuries including an orbital bone fracture from a collision with Toronto’s Pascal Siakam during the 2022 playoffs and another injury in 2018 after an accidental clash with teammate Markelle Fultz. Additionally, last year, he faced Bell’s Palsy during a first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks, which further complicated his ability to perform at his best.
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