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.
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.
The Sixers announced at the start of the third quarter that Embiid had been ruled out for the rest of the night and would undergo further testing to assess the severity of the injury, per beat writer Derek Bodner. As 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.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse told reporters after the game that Embiid was still being tested to determine whether there are any fractures in the area where he was hit, via Bodner. Even if X-rays come back clean, Embiid could end up in the NBA’s concussion protocol, meaning he’d have to pass a series of tests before being cleared to return to action, per Bodner.
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.
Philadelphia will be back in action on Monday in Charlotte, then won’t play again until hosting the Hornets next Friday, so if Embiid’s injury turns out to be minor, he’ll have plenty of recovery time in the next week. The 76ers figure to provide an update on his status at some point this weekend.
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 Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports.