Sixers’ Joel Embiid on case of Bell’s palsy: ‘It’s unfortunate’

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been dealing with a case of Bell’s palsy affecting the left side of his face, mouth and eye for more than a week, the reigning NBA MVP said after Thursday night’s playoff game.

Bell’s palsy is “an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis,” according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. It “results from damage to the facial nerve,” and there is currently no known cure. Embiid said he has been getting migraines and began experiencing the symptoms shortly before the Sixers’ Play-In Tournament game a week ago against the Miami Heat.

“I don’t know exactly what happened but I guess it’s a normal thing. I think it started a game or two before the Miami game. I had bad migraines and I thought it was nothing. Usually I don’t like to check it out but for some reason I ended up having to tell somebody,” Embiid said of the initial symptoms in a news conference after Thursday’s 125-114 playoff victory over the New York Knicks. “That’s why that Miami game, my body was just — I was just not feeling it. Then I noticed it lately. I’m sure if you Google the symptoms you’ll know what it is. It’s pretty annoying with my left side of my face, my mouth and my eye. It’s been tough but I’m not a quitter. I gotta keep fighting through anything. It’s unfortunate, that’s the way I look at it. But that’s not an excuse. You gotta keep pushing.”

Joel Embiid confirmed that he has had a case of Bell’s palsy over the last week-plus. He said it began 1-2 days before the Play-In game against the Heat. He had migraines. It has affected the left side of his face and mouth.

Embiid: “It’s been tough… It’s unfortunate.” pic.twitter.com/0EOPWlAGXx

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Embiid said the symptoms have persisted.

“It could be weeks. It could be months. I just hope it could stay like this,” Embiid said. “I got a beautiful face. I don’t like when my mouth is looking the other way. Like I said, unfortunate situation but everything happens for a reason. I gotta take care of myself mentally.”

Embiid missed two months of the regular season due to a torn meniscus but returned in early April as the Sixers fought for postseason positioning in the Eastern Conference. After scoring 29 points and 34 points in the Sixers’ first two games of their best-of-seven series against the Knicks, Embiid scored 50 points in Thursday’s Game 3. Philadelphia now trails the series 2-1, with Game 4 set for Sunday afternoon.

(Joel Embiid: Bill Streicher / USA Today)