Joel Embid started on Friday night for the Philadelphia 76ers against Charlotte after missing a game due to a sinus fracture.
Embiid received a thunderous ovation and wore a protective “Phantom of the Opera” mask upon his return.
Embiid has been plagued by injuries this season and has only played in six games, mainly due to knee soreness – a crucial reason why the Sixers are well under .500 and aren’t a threat to the Eastern Conference.
Coach Nick Nurse said before the game that Embiid’s outlook was “positive” in his pregame workout and that there are always numerous factors that determine whether the oft-injured two-time NBA scoring champion will play every game.
“I just think it’s probably everything,” Nurse said. ‘How does he feel, how does the conditioning work? How does his body feel? Just everything. How does he breathe? How does he move? All that stuff.”
The announced Big Three of All-Stars Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George started a game together for the fourth time this season.
Embiid had used a “Phantom” type mask in the past.
In 2018, Embiid fractured his left eye socket and suffered a concussion when he collided with teammate Markelle Fultzsidelining him for the final eight games of the regular season and the first two games of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
In April 2022, Embiid caught an elbow from Pascal Siakam in Philadelphia’s Game 6 win, which fractured his right orbital and forced the seven-time All-Star to miss the first two games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals with the injury.
Embiid’s recent facial fracture happened last Friday against Indiana. Embiid was fighting Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin when he hit an errant forearm and elbow to the bridge of the nose. Embiid fell to the ground as the play continued on the floor and remained lying near the Philadelphia bench, holding his face.
Embiid is suffering from swelling in his left knee and is also serving a three-game suspension for a physical incident with a reporter.
The 30-year-old Embiid was limited to 39 games last season, mainly due to knee surgery after tearing the meniscus in his left knee against Golden State on Jan. 30.
Embiid, who helped the U.S. win gold at the Paris Olympics, signed a $193 million contract ahead of training camp and skipped the entire preseason.
