The NBA season has gone from bad to worse, slightly better, and now worse than ever for the Philadelphia 76ers this year. The injury bug has been the most consistent presence for the Sixers, and the end is far from out of sight. Monday afternoon, the team provided an update on Joel Embiid‘s status.
Embiid suffered a fractured sinus against the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 13, a Friday the 13th to be remembered. That evening took not just Embiid but Jared McCain from Sixers fans for an extended period of time. During a post-practice media availability Sunday afternoon, head coach Nick Nurse gave an update on the star center.
“Listen, you guys know he’s got a sinus fracture, right?” Nurse said. “It’s been reported. He’s still got another evaluation here shortly this afternoon. [We’ll] see where we’re at. [He] hasn’t been ruled out for tomorrow yet. We just still need information on this last assessment here this afternoon.”
Now, ahead of the Sixers’ matchup against the Charlotte Hornets, the team announced the latest on Embiid’s injury.
According to the Sixers, Joel Embiid will remain out and will be re-evaluated in approximately one week. Nurse made a point to mention that Embiid had not been ruled out of Monday’s game as of Sunday afternoon. That always felt like the least likely of scenarios, given the injury. A week off before being re-evaluated feels much more in line with expectations.
Speaking of expectations, many have wondered if they should expect Embiid to return with a mask, as he has done with past injuries. Nurse also addressed this on Sunday.
“I don’t know that either,” Nurse said of Embiid wearing a mask. “I think that’s certainly a possibility. He’s certainly done that before, but I don’t know that. Nobody’s told me that, ‘Yes, it’s going to be a mask situation, for sure.’ Nobody’s told me that. I think it’s really 50/50.”
Once again, it’s a waiting game for Sixers fans. It’s another frustrating injury in what’s been an incredibly frustrating season. One thing that should not be forgotten is that as frustrating as it has been for the fans, it cannot be how frustrating this must be for Embiid.
Hopefully, this is one last grand hurdle, and the team can move forward from here.
