September 16, 2026

Joel Embiid suffers sinus fracture vs. Pacers

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AP Photo/Chris Szagola

In Joel Embiid‘s second game back, he suffered a new injury.

Embiid suffered a sinus fracture in Friday night’s 121-107 loss to the Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center. He will be further evaluated this weekend.

With 11 seconds left in the first half, Bennedict Mathurin‘s left arm collided with Embiid’s face as Mathurin attempted a putback layup on a missed Tyrese Haliburton shot. He exited the floor shortly after and did not return.

Embiid scored 12 points in 17 minutes Friday night, shooting four-for-nine from the field, including four rebounds and five assists.

We all know Embiid’s story this season. He missed the first 10 games of the year, seven due to his left knee debacle and three more because of his suspension. He has played just five of the Sixers’ 23 games so far this season, averaging 22.0 points on 40.7% shooting, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He scored a season-high 31 points in 33 minutes last Sunday in Chicago.

Embiid is getting to the point where he may just be the most hapless basketball player ever. He always seems to be involved in the most wild and freak accidents. Whenever he is finally healthy, something goes wrong.

He has had so many injuries with his eye and his face over the years. 2018 when Markelle Fultz ran into him days before the playoffs, 2022 in Toronto when he took an embow to the eye, his bell’s palsy in last year’s postseason, and now this.

It is sickening to see, for Embiid mentally and physically.

Embiid said to the media that the past couple of months have been, “Depressing,” following Sunday’s win over the Bulls. “Just trying to figure it out. There’s no injury. Just between the swelling … we’ve got to get it figured out. That’s it. I’ve been saying it for the last few months. It’s been extremely depressing. It’s something that hasn’t been figured out, and it’s been extremely annoying, because I would love to play every single game.”

I feel so bad for Embiid, and the Sixers’ problems have become worse.


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Benjamin Goldstein

Benjamin has been covering Philly Sports for Philly Sports Reports since 2017. He is a podcaster, writer, and founder of Philly Sports Reports. Benjamin is also an intern at the WBCB Sports Network on 1490AM. Through Philly Sports Reports, Benjamin has gotten the opportunity to meet Phillies owner John Middleton in his suite and be honored as the Philadelphia sports fan of the week for KYW News Radio. He hopes to be reporting on Philly sports as a full-time job in the future.

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