Sixers middle Joel Embiid exited Friday’s loss to Indiana simply earlier than halftime after being struck within the face by Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin and didn’t return within the second half, per The Associated Press.
Mathurin and Embiid have been battling for a rebound underneath the Sixers’ basket when Mathurin’s left forearm and elbow made onerous contact with the correct facet of Embiid’s face and the bridge of his nostril. He fell to the ground and held his face in ache for just a few moments earlier than strolling to the locker room.
The Sixers introduced initially of the third quarter that Embiid had been dominated out for the remainder of the night time and would bear additional testing to evaluate the severity of the damage, per beat author Derek Bodner. As Bodner observes, the previous MVP has a historical past of facial accidents, having suffered orbital bone fractures on each the left facet of his face (in 2018) and the correct facet (in 2022). He additionally handled Bell’s palsy throughout final season’s playoffs.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse instructed reporters after the sport that Embiid was nonetheless being examined to find out whether or not there are any fractures within the space the place he was hit, via Bodner. Even when X-rays come again clear, Embiid may find yourself within the NBA’s concussion protocol, that means he’d need to go a sequence of checks earlier than being cleared to return to motion, per Bodner.
Friday’s contest was simply the sixth of 23 Sixers video games that Embiid has performed this season. He has missed time because of left knee swelling and was additionally suspended three video games for a locker room run-in with a reporter.
Philadelphia shall be again in motion on Monday in Charlotte, then gained’t play once more till internet hosting the Hornets subsequent Friday, so if Embiid’s damage seems to be minor, he’ll have loads of restoration time within the subsequent week. The 76ers determine to supply an replace on his standing in some unspecified time in the future this weekend.
Sixers guard Jared McCain additionally suffered an obvious head damage when he hit his head on the ground in the course of the second half on Friday, however he cleared the NBA’s concussion protocol and was capable of return to the sport, by way of Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports activities.
