Former NBA MVP Joel Embiid will miss at least one week due to the right sinus fracture he sustained in Friday’s loss to Indiana, the Sixers announced in a press release (Twitter link via Chris Haynes).
Embiid, who was already ruled out for Monday’s game in Charlotte, will be reevaluated in a week.
Embiid exited Friday’s game just before halftime after being struck in the face by Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin and didn’t return in the second half. Mathurin and Embiid were battling for a rebound under the Sixers’ basket when Mathurin’s left forearm and elbow made hard contact with the the right side of Embiid’s face and the bridge of his nose (Twitter video link via Bleacher Report).
Friday’s contest was just the sixth of 23 Sixers games that Embiid has played this season. He has missed time due to left knee swelling and was also suspended three games for a locker room run-in with a reporter.
If there’s a silver lining to Embiid’s latest injury absence, it’s that Philadelphia only has three games this week. After Monday’s contest, the 76ers will host the Hornets on Friday, then travel to Cleveland on Saturday for a back-to-back. Their next game after that is Monday vs. San Antonio.
Unfortunately, the 30-year-old center wasn’t the only Sixer injured on Friday, as rookie guard Jared McCain suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee and requires surgery. Philadelphia’s 2024 first-round pick is out indefinitely.
I said it this summer
When you have Joel Broken Embiid, you don’t need Paul Broken George.
Assets collections = damaged good collections?
Morey for lifetime GM in Philly.
Week, month, season….@ this point Embiid, the 6ers and their imaginary rivalries are non existent.
Do we have to call Embiid the former MVP on every piece written about him?
We still call Jimmy Carter Mr President, so there’s that…
Finally, a Joel Embiid injury I can relate to.