Joel Embiid, the 76ers' powerhouse center, is playing through pain. He's facing off against Bell's palsy, a condition that's got half his face on the fritz since before the play-in tournament commenced. Despite the setback, Embiid bulldozed through the court, racking up a whopping 50 points in Game 3 against the Knicks, though he had to sport sunglasses at the podium post-game due to symptoms like blurred vision and aggravating dry eyes, as reported by 6abc.com.
The Sixers' MVP candidate began experiencing symptoms of the affliction "a day or two" before facing the Heat on April 17, where, despite migraines and unease, he hammered down 23 points and snatched 15 rebounds. According to ABC News, Embiid admitted, “My body was just, I was just not feeling it,” then he confided to the docs about his health woes. The facial paralysis is putting a crimp in his style, but Embiid is resolute: “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.”
Game 3's showcase had Embiid not only crashing through the Knicks' defenses but also violently assaulting the hoop—a stellar 13 of 19 from the floor and netting an almost impeccable 19 of 21 free throws. Not to mention, he turned the hardwood into his downtown, banking five 3-pointers. Yet with the Knicks still maintaining a series lead of 2-1, the Sixers' survival hinges on Embiid's shoulders, particularly as they head into Game 4 on their home turf in Philadelphia.
Embiid, whose symptoms have been visible throughout the series, even resorted to a low-key locker postgame interview in Game 2, his head bowed to conceal the paralysis from prying eyes. On recovery, there's no clear end game in sight. He bared to reporters, “It hasn't really necessarily gotten better,” emphasizing the uncertainty of his timeline to peak health, “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.”, ABC News reports.
