In the midst of the Sixers’ postseason series against the Knicks, center Joel Embiid has been dealing with a number of health concerns. Prior to Game 3 victory over the New York Knicks, details about Embiid’s knee-related setback were already public. However, after the game, it was revealed that he was also battling Bell’s Palsy.
Embiid acknowledged his setbacks and admitted that he was unsure what had caused them. He has been seen wearing sunglasses off the court recently, with symptoms starting before the Sixers’ match against the Miami Heat in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament. Despite dealing with meniscus recovery and Bell’s Palsy, Embiid has not missed a game for the Sixers since their postseason series began against the Knicks last Saturday.
Despite these challenges, Embiid has remained determined to continue fighting through them. He described the symptoms of Bell’s Palsy as annoying and affecting his left side of his face, mouth and eye. However, Embiid continues to push through and lead his team in their playoff journey.
Embiid’s play on court has not been hindered by his health issues throughout this series against Knicks. In Game 1 he posted 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists followed by an impressive performance in Game 2 where he scored 34 points ten rebounds and six assists even though Sixers were down two games going into Game 3. In a crucial victory over Knicks in Game 3, Embiid elevated his play further by scoring 50 points grabbing eight rebounds and distributing four assists .
Embiid’s resilience and performance on court have not wavered despite multiple setbacks , he may not feel like his best self but continues to push through and lead his team in their playoff journey