Nightmare Continues: Sixers season takes yet another hit as Joel Embiid receives freak injury setback; additional evaluations to take place this weekend

Can someone just wake me up when this is all over? The now several-month-long, nightmare of a season it has been for the Sixers has literally ripped my love for basketball right out of my chest. It’s one thing after another and just when Joel Embiid finally returned to play on Friday night, he’s out of action yet again, suffering a sinus fracture after taking a hand to the face.

This time, on Friday the 13th, Embiid suffered a freak injury against the Indiana Pacers just before halftime. The Sixers were trailing the Pacers 61-50 with about 20 seconds left, Ben Mathurin tried to put back a missed layup attempt from Tyrese Haliburton, and as he was coming down, he smacked Embiid right in the face.

Joel of course fell to the hardwood and had to be attended to by the medical staff he headed to the locker room and did not return.

Sixers literally take another hit, Joel Embiid exits early with sinus fracture

Joel Embiid has to be the most unlucky player to ever pick up a basketball…

There’s quite literally nothing he can do to avoid these kind of freak accidents. It’s unbelievable. Story of his career. Dude finally gets healthy just to have this happen yet again.

Feel sick for him pic.twitter.com/RpqskDfoaK

— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) December 14, 2024

Again, Embiid ended up being diagnosed with a fractured sinus, per a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania. The big man will obviously undergo additional evaluations this weekend to determine the next steps, which by the way, I wouldn’t be shocked if the messaging from the Sixers’ organization is beyond confusing and downright unclear, as we’ve seen countless numbers of times in the past.

Cursed: Joel Embiid Injury History:

The second you mention the word “cursed” with Joel Embiid everyone on social media is quick to challenge it. Why? If you think rationally about it and put your emotions aside, Embiid’s injury history is nothing else but a curse. Check out what he’s dealt with during his NBA career and see for yourself.

• 2014-15, 2015-16: Fractured foot
• 2016-17: Meniscus tear
• 2017-18: Orbital fracture
• 2018-19: Knee tendinitis
• 2019-20: Dislocated finger
• 2020-21: Partially torn meniscus
• 2021-22: Orbital fracture
• 2022-23: Sprained LCL
• 2023-24: Torn meniscus / Bells Palsy
• 2024-25: Sinus fracture

You really can’t even make it up how ridiculous it’s been for Joel Embiid. The laundry list of “freak injuries” are glaring and for anyone calling Embiid soft, you’re nothing more than an internet troll.

Nick Nurse talked to the media following the game and had this to say: “He’s still getting tested”- basically shrugging his shoulders when asked if Embiid got X-rays.

Classic “I have no clue what’s happening” coach speak which has become another staple of the Philadelphia 76ers organization.

Before Embiid left the game, he dropped 12 points, snagged four boards, and dished five assists in 17 minutes. Solid numbers for half a game, but let’s be real—this team stinks right now. The Pacers rolled 121-107, and the Sixers now sit at a brutal 7-16.

Pain. Absolute pain.

Listen up Sixers fans…

If you want to question the organization for extending Joel Embiid knowing the information above, that would be the acceptable route to take when looking at his history. Still, if you want to travel down that road, then you should also be able to see that there was really no other option outside of that.

Embiid is 100% worth that risk and the Sixers are significantly worse without him. That would mean it comes down to extension and “riding until the wheels fall off” or a full scale “blow up” and “start over” after a decade-long run of disappointment.

Not extending Embiid means the Sixers are a lottery team looking for a new direction and likely taking the organization back to the dark days of “The Process.”

Maybe I’m just too invested in the Embiid Era at this point but I still can’t put a nail in the 76ers coffin this season. We are still two weeks out from Christmas and really, NBA basketball up until this point is basically useless.

The 76ers are 7-16 on the season and in 12th place in the Eastern Conference Standings. Nothing is going their way but the law of averages will demand a return to normalcy, assuming this roster can stay healthy and string together a few wins.

In context, the Miami Heat are sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 13-10. The Indiana Pacers hold the final playoff spot at 11-15 on the season.

Point being, the East is a bad product this year and the 76ers should be thankful that after two months with literally nothing going right, they are still a threat to make a run up the standings.

So look, the Philadelphia Eagles are currently (11-2) and absolutely rolling heading into the playoffs. If we’re being honest, that is where our attention and well-being should be as a fanbase right now. We will simply revisit this Sixers squad once the NFL season has concluded. When I say revisit, I mean become emotionally invested into the team again.

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