Embiid has been facing setbacks due to a knee injury he suffered back in January during a game against the Golden State Warriors. Despite surgery and an eight-week recovery plan, Embiid returned to play in the final weeks of the regular season. However, leading up to the playoff games against the New York Knicks, Embiid was listed as questionable due to ongoing knee injury recovery.
Rumors began circulating that he was dealing with a mysterious setback, especially after being seen wearing sunglasses during public appearances off the court. After the Sixers’ Game 3 victory against the Knicks, it was reported that Embiid has a “mild case” of Bell’s palsy, which he developed during the Play-In Tournament against the Miami Heat. Embiid chose to keep this diagnosis private to avoid distractions for the team during the first round of the playoffs.
Despite his setbacks, Embiid has been a key player for Philadelphia, averaging impressive stats in the first two playoff games. In Thursday’s win against the Knicks, Embiid scored a playoff career-high of 50 points, helping the Sixers secure their first playoff victory in 2024. While his status for future games remains uncertain, the Sixers are hopeful that Embiid will continue to contribute as long as he is able to push through his setbacks.