Joel Embiid, the star center for the Philadelphia 76ers, put on a remarkable performance in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks despite dealing with Bell's palsy. Embiid scored a career-high 50 points to lead his team to victory, but his condition went unnoticed by many as he hid his symptoms by wearing sunglasses and conducting postgame interviews with his head down.
Bell's palsy is a condition that causes facial muscle weakness or paralysis on one side of the face. Embiid first noticed symptoms about a day or two before the Sixers played the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament, but he initially thought it was nothing and tried to tough it out.
Despite his condition, Embiid shot 13 of 19 from the field and made all 21 of his free throws. His performance cut Philadelphia's deficit in the series to 2-1, with Game 4 set for Sunday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly.
Embiid's diagnosis was confirmed by multiple sources, including ESPN and CBS News. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, Bell's palsy is an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis that results from damage to the facial nerve. There is no known cure for the condition.
Embiid had missed two months of the regular season due to a torn meniscus but returned in early April. His return was crucial for the Sixers, who were fighting for postseason positioning in the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks lead the series 2-1, and Embiid's performance was a significant boost for Philadelphia as they look to mount a comeback. The Sixers will need him at his best if they are to advance to the next round of the playoffs.
