Former MVP Joel Embiid ‘s health has been an issue throughout this season. The Philadelphia 76ers center lost his MVP eligibility because of his absence due to a knee injury. However, now, after recovering and dropping 50 points in game 3, a new health issue for the star has come to light.
Before game 3, NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski revealed the news that shocked the NBA fans. Joel Embiid has been reported to have a mild case of Bell’s Palsy since last week. After the Philadelphia 76ers won the third game, Embiid confirmed the news in a press conference.
It's been tough but I'm not a quitter. So, you gotta fight through anything. But It's unfortunate… But that's not an excuse, you gotta keep pushing. Joel Embiid said
During game 2 against the New York Knicks, fans noticed that the star was blinking only from his one eye. Later, it was revealed that Embiid had been struggling with Bell’s Palsy since the play-in matchup against the Miami Heat.
For the uninitiated, the condition causes weakness in the muscles on one side of the face. Philadelphia fans are hoping the condition will not cause any disturbances in the remaining season.
Embiid’s knee injury had a huge impact on the Sixers as they slipped from the standings and had to compete in the play-in tournament to qualify for the playoffs. The team certainly needs Embiid on the roster, as his 50-point performance got the team their first playoff win and hope for the series victory.
Joel Embiid was called out by Knicks for playing dirty in game 3
The Philadelphia 76ers star was a topic of discussion on Thursday for multiple reasons. Scoring a career playoff high while suffering from a knee injury, the revelation of Bell’s Palsy, and his way of playing in game 3. The star was engaged in several aggressive plays and was even called for a flagrant foul.
The star grabbed Mitchell Robinson’s leg, which made him fall to the ground. The Knicks called out the player after the loss, as Donte DiVincenzo simply called the play with Robinson ‘Dirty’.
Josh Hart was relieved that his teammate was not seriously injured. However, he believed that the non-call for Flagrant 2 was because of events from the previous game.
We knew what Game 3 was gonna be… Especially with how Game 2 ended. Am I surprised? Not at all. Josh Hart said
After the second game, Embiid was upset by the officiating of the game. The star called out the referees in the post-game interview, and the Sixers also reportedly filed a complaint with the league. The matchup will only get interesting from here, as Philly is one win away from tying the series.
More must-reads: