Sixers’ Joel Embiid makes early return from right sinus fracture to face Charlotte Hornets
Embiid, who suffered the injury on Dec. 13 against the Indiana Pacers, was previously slated to return against the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 23.
Sixers center Joel Embiid will return Friday night to face the Charlotte Hornets at the Wells Fargo Center. Embiid was cleared to play after his right sinus fracture was reevaluated on Friday.
The seven-time All-Star, who most recently missed Monday’s victory over the Hornets with a right sinus fracture, was expected to remain sidelined for an additional two games before being reevaluated in a week. The team previously said the earliest the 2023 NBA MVP could return would be against the San Antonio Spurs this upcoming Monday.
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Embiid suffered the fracture on a defensive play 12 seconds before intermission in a loss to the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 13. He took a blow to the right side of his face from Ben Mathurin under Indiana’s basket and fell to the court.
The 7-foot-2 center left the game 6.5 seconds before intermission and did not return. He had 12 points on 4-for-9 shooting to go along with four rebounds and five assists in what was his second game back after missing seven straight because of left knee swelling and personal reasons.
Embiid has only played in six of the Sixers’ first 24 games.
The seven-time All-Star is averaging 20.3 points and a career-low 7.7 rebounds. He’s also shooting career lows of 41.1% from the field and 16% on three-pointers.
Meanwhile, Caleb Martin (right shoulder impingement) will miss his third consecutive game. Jared McCain (lateral meniscus tear in left knee) is out indefinitely.