When Joel Embiid made his long-awaited return to the Philadelphia 76ers after lacking a 3rd of the season to recuperate from a process to restore his torn left meniscus, long-suffering Sixers followers thought they’d solely have one damage to fret about because the group entered the NBA playoffs in opposition to the New York Knicks.
They had been shortly confirmed fallacious in that assumption, nevertheless, as whereas Embiid has actually appeared to be barely lower than his full self bodily as he ramps up his conditioning, it was a mysterious eye/face challenge that has been capturing the web’s consideration.
UPDATE: 10:51 P.M. ET — Adrian Wojnarowski experiences that Embiid is taking part in by a case of Bell’s palsy that he didn’t need to publicly reveal as a distraction:
ESPN Sources: Sixers star Joel Embiid has been handled for a light case of Bell’s Palsey for the previous week. The situation started throughout the play-in victory over Miami however he has wished to maintain it personal to keep away from distractions for his group.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 26, 2024
In line with The Mayo Clinic, Bell’s Palsy “is a situation that causes sudden weak spot within the muscle groups on one facet of the face. Usually the weak spot is short-term and improves over weeks. The weak spot makes half of the face seem to droop. Smiles are one-sided, and the attention on the affected facet is difficult to shut.” Which is strictly what Embiid seems to have been coping with for over per week.
As our personal Erin Grugan has been throughout at Liberty Ballers, the problem began across the group’s play-in sport in opposition to the Miami Warmth, and has been getting increasingly more noticeable since, culminating in a Recreation 3 efficiency in opposition to the Knicks that noticed the reigning MVP proceed to at instances seem visibly unable to blink his left eye:
However then issues obtained stranger, because the left facet of Embiid’s mouth appeared to not be transferring the identical means as the appropriate facet:
RE: Joel Embiid’s eye challenge (that is my beat now)
The problem is probably not simply affecting his eye. It seems the left facet of his mouth appears a bit drooped as effectively.
Clearly does not have an effect on the flexibility to play ball as a lot as the attention, however simply wished to notice it. #Sixers pic.twitter.com/E09KmFOsQt
— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) April 26, 2024
Embiid additionally spent earlier media availabilities trying down… doubtlessly in order that cameras couldn’t get a greater lookup shut. On Thursday, he instructed reporters — together with our personal Paul Hudrick — that the problem has been “annoying” … which looks like placing it mildly:
Joel Embiid mentioned he was experiencing migraines a pair days earlier than the Play-In sport and was identified with Bell’s palsy: “It’s been powerful, however I’m not a quitter.”
— Paul Hudrick (@PaulHudrick) April 26, 2024
However as scary as that’s — severely, it’s laborious to think about even watching basketball whereas coping with one thing like that, a lot much less taking part in with it within the NBA — Embiid didn’t let the problem cease him from placing up doubtlessly the best playoff sport of his profession.
After guaranteeing that the Sixers would win the collection following their heartbreaking (and controversial) Recreation 2 collapse in Madison Sq. Backyard, Embiid made positive they on the very least weren’t going to lose Recreation 3, roasting the Knicks for 50 factors within the group’s 125-114 win.
He was cooking on post-ups, after which as soon as his jumper obtained going, it was over for New York:
Now Embiid has gotten sizzling. Hartenstein cannot shut out on the primary clip along with his arms down. Second clip, Maxey does an awesome job stretching the protection out to get Embiid an open pop. The third one is simply Embiid being good. pic.twitter.com/ppor23qWey
— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) April 26, 2024
Embiid went 13-19 from the sector and 19-21 from the free-throw line to go together with 8 rebounds, 4 assists and a block, and his 50 factors weren’t solely his personal playoff career-high and a excessive for the 2024 postseason up to now, however can be essentially the most factors anybody has scored in opposition to the Knicks in a postseason sport since Michael Jordan. The truth that he did all of it whereas going through a, frankly, terrifying well being challenge makes it all of the extra unbelievable.
It stays to be seen if the Sixers will overcome their many disadvantages on this collection to finally win, however between not simply gutting out, however THRIVING at a career-best playoff degree — in opposition to an awesome Knicks protection, it must be famous — regardless of each a beforehand recognized knee challenge now this case of Bell’s palsy, nobody can argue Embiid hasn’t accomplished actually the whole lot in his energy to present the Sixers an opportunity to advance.
And now that we all know what’s (reportedly) occurring, hopefully the Large Fella feels higher quickly. As Thursday confirmed, the postseason is best when he’s cooking.
