Joel Embiid took a significant blow to the face late in the second quarter during the Philadelphia 76ers‘ game against the Indiana Pacers. Embiid was going up to get a rebound. Benedict Mathurin, the Pacers’ big, tried to contest the rebound attempt but would catch Embiid in the face.
Joel Embiid went down hard after being hit in the face by Bennedict Mathurin on a rebound attempt.
Praying he is alright 🙏🏽
pic.twitter.com/vB6O7AjVGm
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 14, 2024
Embiid looked to be in a lot of pain after the hit. Later in the game, it was confirmed by 76ers’ reporters that Embiid wouldn’t return to the game, and had to undergo further testing to find any signs of a significant injury. It looks like this may be the latest in a long list of injuries for Embiid.
For any head-related injury, the NBA has a strict protocol. The first focus is always to scan for concussions, which have been a massive concern for sports all over the world, especially as the awareness around head trauma and CTE has become more prevalent.
Embiid is no stranger to facial injuries. He once injured his nose quite badly but was able to continue playing, sporting a face mask, much like many NBA players in the past.
However, the biggest concern for Embiid came last season, when he revealed that he underwent a severe bout of Bell’s Palsy, that paralyzed a major portion of his face.
Right now, the 76ers will be hoping that the hit from Mathurin gave Embiid nothing more than a slight knock, and he can come back sooner rather than later.
He just made his return from another injury this week, as he played against the Bulls. In the five full games Embiid has played this season, Embid is averaging 22.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.
Embiid has already missed a good chunk of games so far this season, and the 76ers want him healthy for the foreseeable future as the 76ers try to dig themselves out of the massive hole they find themselves after a horrendous 7-16 start to the new season.
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