Joel Embiid sidelined by broken face in huge blow to Sixers’ playoff hopes

The Philadelphia 76ers have been dealt a huge playoffs blow with star big man Joel Embiid ruled out indefinitely with a nasty injury.

Joel Embiid is out indefinitely with injury. Photo: Cole Burston/Getty Images/AFP

The Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff hopes have suffered a body blow as star centre Joel Embiid was sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with an orbital fracture and concussion, reports said.

Embiid was injured near the end of the Sixers’ series-clinching blowout of the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

Watch Live Coverage of The 2022 NBA Playoffs with ESPN on Kayo including every game of The Conference Finals and The Finals. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Embiid left the court clutching his face after appearing to be struck by a Pascal Siakam elbow as the Raptors ace drove to the basket.

ESPN and The Athletic both reported Embiid was concussed in the incident and also suffered an orbital fracture near his right eye.

Embiid suffered a similar injury in 2018 to his left eye that required surgery and led to a three-week lay-off. He eventually returned wearing a protective mask.

The Sixers did not immediately comment on the reported injury.

Joel Embiid has a broken face. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Embiid, seen by many as the frontrunner for this season’s NBA MVP award, has already been struggling during the playoffs with a torn ligament in his right thumb.

The injury came with the Sixers leading by 29 points late in the fourth quarter.

Moments before the incident, Embiid had incensed Raptors fans at the Scotiabank Arena after performing an exuberant “airplane” celebration following a basket.

The Sixers open their Eastern Conference semi-final series against top seeds Miami on Tuesday.

He is expected to be listed as out for the game and there is no timeline yet on when he will return to the court.

Originally published as Joel Embiid sidelined by broken face in huge blow to Sixers’ playoff hopes