Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Sixers' Joel Embiid suffers another injury

Originally posted on Hoops Rumors | By Luke Adams | Last updated Dec 13, 2024 11:17 PM ET

Sixers center Joel Embiid exited Friday’s loss to Indiana just before halftime after being struck in the face by Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin and didn’t return in the second half, per The Associated Press.

Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports reports that the former MVP suffered a sinus fracture.

Mathurin and Embiid were battling for a rebound under the Sixers’ basket when Mathurin’s left forearm and elbow made hard contact with the right side of Embiid’s face and the bridge of his nose. He fell to the floor and held his face in pain for a few moments before walking to the locker room.

Joel Embiid has been ruled out with injury vs. Pacers

He will undergo further testing after 'impact to right side of face' pic.twitter.com/K0E7jrYB4F
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 14, 2024

As beat writer Derek Bodner observes, the former MVP has a history of facial injuries, having suffered orbital bone fractures on both the left side of his face (in 2018) and the right side (in 2022). He also dealt with Bell’s palsy during last season’s playoffs.

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.

Sixers guard Jared McCain also suffered an apparent head injury when he hit his head on the floor during the second half on Friday, but he cleared the NBA’s concussion protocol and was able to return to the game, via Neubeck.

This article first appeared on Hoops Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: