Joel Embiid’s recent sinus fracture is “not nearly as severe” as the previous facial injuries he has faced, according to Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse. This assessment brings a sense of relief, especially considering Embiid’s history with more serious injuries during his career as the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player.
The injury occurred during the first half of the 76ers’ 121-107 defeat against the Indiana Pacers, when Bennedict Mathurin inadvertently struck Embiid in the face while they both contested for a defensive rebound.
The team announced that Embiid will undergo reevaluation in one week, indicating that the coaching staff is hopeful for a swift recovery.
He will miss the upcoming game against the Charlotte Hornets, further highlighting the need for caution in his recovery process.
Nurse remarked, “The only thing that I can compare it to, but I wasn’t here, but he certainly had those other ones that were a lot worse. It’s not nearly as severe as those two from what they tell me. So I guess that’s good because those were pretty tough — those two — and they say it’s not as bad as that.”
In the past, Embiid has faced significant challenges with injuries. In 2018, he fractured his left orbital bone and suffered a concussion after a collision with teammate Markelle Fultz, which sidelined him for the final stretch of the regular season and the early playoff games. Similarly, in April 2022, an elbow from Pascal Siakam resulted in a fractured right orbital, forcing him to miss crucial games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
This season, Embiid has only participated in six games due to ongoing knee soreness, averaging just 20.3 points per game for the struggling 76ers (7-16), a stark contrast to his usual performance.
Nurse added, “Listen, it’s hard enough for him to get himself ready to go. The knee after the surgery and all that stuff is enough to focus on. This isn’t going to help his ability to condition. He’s going to have to recover from some of this stuff — the breathing isn’t going to be easy for a little bit, so obviously it makes it really difficult. … He’s just going to have to deal with it. Hopefully he’s getting all of these little things out of the way so he can focus on his recovery of the knee and get back out there for a stretch of games.”
