Joel Embiid reveals Bell's palsy diagnosis after game three masterpiece

Moments after the final horn sounded of the 76ers’ game three win over the Knicks on Thursday night, reports emerged that Joel Embiid has been fighting through Bell’s palsy, a condition that has affected the left side of his face since the regular season ended.

Embiid, who is also fighting through a surgically-repaired knee, confirmed the diagnosis after setting a playoff career high with 50 points on Thursday, revealing that he had been feeling symptoms since the days leading up to Philly’s Play-In Tournament win over the Heat.

Fans first began expressing concern about Embiid in that game against Miami, when the former MVP’s left eye was not seen blinking during the game. Embiid revealed he has to put drops in that left eye to keep it from getting too dry, and that his vision could get blurry at times. The condition could last weeks or months, but it didn’t seem to hold him back on Thursday, as he went off in MVP fashion to get the Sixers back in the series.

“One thing I’m not gonna do is give up,” Embiid said. “Gotta keep pushing, gotta keep fighting. Gotta keep putting my body on the line for my family, for this city, for this team.”