The Philadelphia 76ers suffered a 121-107 defeat to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center. But the loss wasn’t the only setback for the team, as their star center, Joel Embiid, met with another injury on Friday.
Embiid was forced to leave the game after sustaining a facial injury late in the first half. The incident occurred in the final seconds before halftime when Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin unintentionally hit Embiid in the face while attempting to collect an offensive rebound.
At that time, the 76ers star was in the corner to secure a defensive rebound. He was struck on the right side of his face. He immediately collapsed to the floor in visible pain.
Joel Embiid has to be the most unlucky player to ever pick up a basketball…
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) December 14, 2024
There’s quite literally nothing he can do to avoid these kind of freak accidents. It’s unbelievable. Story of his career. Dude finally gets healthy just to have this happen yet again.
Feel sick for him pic.twitter.com/RpqskDfoaK
The 76ers later confirmed Embiid had suffered a sinus fracture and ruled him out for the remainder of the game. Before his exit, Embiid had contributed 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds in just over 17 minutes of play.
Philadelphia Head Coach Nick Nurse Provides Update On Joel Embiid’s Injury
Head coach Nick Nurse provided limited updates on Joel Embiid’s facial injury following the losing night. Nurse revealed that Embiid would undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury.
The injury adds to an already challenging season for Embiid, who has appeared in only six of the team’s first 23 games. His limited availability came from multiple factors, including recovery from previous injuries and a three-game suspension for striking a reporter.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
The star big man had only returned to action on December 9 against the Chicago Bulls following a seven-game absence due to an injury. He is averaging 20.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game this season.
Philadelphia will now wait for an update on Embiid’s condition. Fans will be hoping for a speedy recovery for the 76ers big man.
Also Read: Paul George Makes A Bold “Playoff” Prediction About Philadelphia 76ers Despite Early Struggles
