Pacers Defeat 76ers as Joel Embiid Suffers Early Exit Due to Facial Injury
Philadelphia's star center, Joel Embiid, received an accidental hit to the right side of his face during the 76ers' 121-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers at home on Friday. As a result, he was unable to continue playing.
In the second quarter, Indiana's Bennedict Mathurin went up for an offensive rebound and missed, accidentally striking Embiid's face with his left hand on the way down. Embiid fell to the ground and was attended to by the team's trainers.
The 30-year-old Embiid did not return for the second half, and the 76ers' record dropped to 7-16 for the season. In the 17 minutes he played, he scored 12 points, had five assists, and grabbed four rebounds.
After the game, 76ers coach Nick Nurse informed reporters that Embiid was still undergoing tests due to the blow he received near his cheekbone.
The NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2022-23 season has only played six games so far this season. He missed the beginning of the season due to knee soreness and a suspension for pushing a reporter in the team's locker room. He then missed seven consecutive games while managing swelling in his left knee before returning to the lineup last Sunday.
Following the Indiana game, Embiid's season averages were 20.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. These numbers are far below his career averages of 27.8 points and 11.1 rebounds.
