Star centre Joel Embiid was ruled out of Friday’s game against the Indiana Pacers with a facial injury, the team announced during the second half.
Embiid was inadvertently struck in the face by Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin as he attempted a putback in the second quarter.
The big man stayed down on the court as his team went the other way, clutching his face with both hands.
Embiid has played just five games this season as he’s battled various ailments.
His points-per-game average of 22 is down more than 12 points from last season, while his 8.4 rebounds per game also lag behind last year’s mark of 11.
Outside of Embiid, 76ers co-stars Tyrese Maxey and Paul George have also missed significant time with injuries.
Embiid has had a number of face injuries, including an orbital bone fracture after a collision with Toronto’s Pascal Siakam during the 2022 playoffs and one in 2018 after colliding with teammate Markelle Fultz. Last year, Embiid had Bell’s Palsy during a first-round playoff loss against New York.
Philadelphia took a record of 7-15 into Friday’s action, sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference. The team returns to the court Monday in Charlotte to face the Hornets.
— With files from The Associated Press