Joel Embiid started for the Philadelphia 76ers against Charlotte on Friday night after missing a game due to a sinus fracture.
Embiid received a loud ovation as he was introduced and wore a protective “Phantom of the Opera” mask in his return.
Embiid has faced many injuries this season and had only played in six games, mainly due to knee soreness. This is a big reason why the 76ers are struggling and not seen as a serious contender in the Eastern Conference.
Coach Nick Nurse shared before the game that Embiid’s condition was “positive” going into his pregame workout. Nurse also mentioned there are several factors in deciding whether Embiid, a two-time NBA scoring champion who has been injured often, will play.
“I just think it’s probably everything,” Nurse said. “How’s he feeling, how’s the conditioning working out? How’s his body feeling? Just everything. How’s he breathing? How’s he moving? All that stuff.”
The well-known Big Three of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George started a game together for only the fourth time this season. Embiid had worn a similar “Phantom” mask in the past.
In 2018, Embiid fractured his left orbital bone and suffered a concussion after colliding with teammate Markelle Fultz. This injury caused him to miss the final eight games of the regular season and the first two games of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
In April 2022, Embiid was elbowed by Pascal Siakam in Philadelphia’s Game 6 win, which caused a fracture in his right orbital. This injury forced him to miss the first two games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Embiid’s recent facial fracture occurred last Friday against Indiana when he clashed with Bennedict Mathurin. He was hit in the nose with an errant forearm and elbow, causing him to fall to the floor and stay down near the 76ers’ bench, holding his face.
Embiid has also been dealing with swelling in his left knee and served a three-game suspension after an incident with a reporter.
The 30-year-old Embiid played only 39 games last season, mostly due to knee surgery after tearing the meniscus in his left knee on January 30 against Golden State.
Embiid, who helped the U.S. win gold in the Paris Olympics, signed a $193 million contract before training camp and skipped the entire preseason.
