Joel Embiid undergoing Bell's Palsy treatment since play-in game

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid has revealed that he has been diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a condition causing facial paralysis, which has been affecting him since before the play-in tournament.

During a press conference after scoring 50 points in the Sixers' Game 3 victory over the New York Knicks, Embiid disclosed that he has experienced symptoms like blurred vision and dry eyes.


Bell's palsy is characterized by a sudden weakening of the facial muscles, leading to asymmetry in facial expressions, such as a one-sided smile and difficulty closing the eye on the affected side.


Typically, Bell's palsy is transient in nature. However, Embiid indicated that he is uncertain about the duration of his recovery, stating that it could range from weeks to months.

Despite his health challenges, Embiid delivered a stellar performance, setting a playoff career-high of 50 points along with eight rebounds and four assists, propelling the 76ers to their first win in the opening round series.

Embiid's shooting was particularly noteworthy, as he achieved a historic level of efficiency, making 13 of his 19 field goal attempts, sinking 5 of 7 three-pointers, and converting 19 of 21 free throws. This performance marked the first instance in NBA playoff history where a player scored 50 points on fewer than 20 field goal attempts.

Embiid disclosed that he began experiencing symptoms of Bell's palsy "a day or two" before Philadelphia's Play-In tournament game against the Miami Heat on April 17th. Initially dismissing the symptoms as migraines, Embiid eventually sought medical attention after realizing he wasn't feeling well.

Source CNN : ‘I'm not a quitter': Joel Embiid drops 50 points in Game 3 win against Knicks after being diagnosed with Bell's palsy
Source NBC Sports : 76ers All-Star Joel Embiid says he was diagnosed with Bell's palsy before the playoffs started