The Philadelphia 76ers announced on Monday that All-Star center Joel Embiid will be re-evaluated in approximately one week for the sinus fracture that he suffered on Friday.
Embiid will remain sidelined during that time frame.
Embiid sustained the injury in Philadelphia’s 121-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin inadvertently hit Embiid in the face while attempting to secure a rebound. Embiid immediately fell to the floor in pain and eventually left the game.
Joel Embiid got up and walked to the locker room with a few seconds left to play in the first half, was hit in the face by the arm of Bennedict Mathurin here. pic.twitter.com/2gLajNwgny
— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) December 14, 2024
He did not return and was later diagnosed with a sinus fracture.
Embiid has been plagued by injuries during his 11-season NBA career that includes seven All-Star bids, five All-NBA selections and the 2023 MVP award. This is the third time he’s suffered a facial fracture.
Embiid previously sustained a right orbital fracture and a concussion during the 2022 playoffs when then-Raptors forward Pascal Siakam inadvertently elbowed him in the face. That injury sidelined Embiid for the Games 1 and 2 of Philadelphia’s playoff series against the Miami Heat. He returned in Game 3 and continued to play until the 76ers were eliminated in Game 6 of the conference semifinal series.
Embiid previously suffered a left orbital fracture in 2018 that sidelined him for 10 games, including two in the postseason.
This is a breaking story that will be updated.