Having a banged-up knee and being diagnosed with mild case of Bell’s palsy didn't stop reigning MVP Joel Embiid from doing what he does best: dominate and win.
Just what the Philadelphia Sixers needed in a must-win game.
Embiid elaborated how he is dealing with the condition after dropping a playoff-high 50 points in the Sixers much-needed Game 3 win over the New York Knicks to trim the series lead to 2-1.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2024
50 PTS
8 REB
5 3PM
13-19 FG
Philly takes Game 3 💪 pic.twitter.com/SoaixM9lXH
The Sixers big man spoke of suffering from the affliction about a “day or two” before the Sixers played the Miami Heat on April 17 in the play-in tournament.
He had 23 points and 15 rebounds in a win that sent the Sixers to the playoffs.
The former top overall pick then complained of migraines but “thought it was nothing” before he finally notified doctors he wasn’t feeling well.
“My body was just, I was just not feeling it,” Embiid said. “Yes, it’s pretty annoying. My left side of my face, my mouth and my eye. It’s been tough. But I’m not a quitter. I’m going to keep fighting through anything. It’s unfortunate, that’s the way I look at it. But it’s not an excuse. I’ve got to keep pushing.”
"Pretty annoying with the left side of my face, my mouth and my eye. It's been tough but I'm not a quitter… It's unfortunate… got to keep pushing.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 26, 2024
NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski posted about Embiid's condition earlier on Friday, saying the reigning MVP wanted to avoid distractions for his team.
ESPN Sources: Sixers star Joel Embiid has been treated for a mild case of Bell’s palsy for the past week. The condition began during the play-in victory over Miami but he has wanted to keep it private to avoid distractions for his team.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 26, 2024
Bell’s palsy temporarily weakens or paralyzes facial muscles. People with Bell’s palsy develop a droopy appearance on one — or sometimes both — sides of their face, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The condition usually isn’t serious and often goes away in a few months without treatment.
Embiid said he has no timetable on how long it will take to recover from Bell’s palsy.
“It hasn’t really necessarily gotten better,” he said. “With the conversations that I’ve had, it could be weeks, it could be months. I just hope that it stays like this. I’ve got a beautiful face. I don’t like when my mouth is looking the other way. Unfortunate situation but everything happens for a reason.”
Besides dealing with the condition, Embiid is also coming off a surgery to repair the lateral meniscus in his left knee that sidelined the seven-time All-Star from Jan. 30 to April 2. Asked about if he is somehow near to playing comfortably with the knee, the 30-year-old superstar got honest.
“No. I’m just gonna keep pushing. Like I said, I’m not gonna quit even if it’s on one leg. I.m still going to go out there and try. [Just] gonna keep playing better and better.”
In three games so far against the Knicks, Embiid is averaging an insane 37.7 points in 39.0 minutes alongside 8.7 rebounds and 5.3 dimes.
[ALSO READ: Embiid erupts for playoff-high 50, Sixers foil Knicks in much-needed Game 3 win]
Game 4 of the Sixers-Knicks series will be on Monday, April 29. (PH time).
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