Connect with us

Sports

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid fighting through Bell's palsy amid NBA playoffs

Published

on

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid fighting through Bell's palsy amid NBA playoffs

Join Fox News for access to this content

You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading.

Please enter a valid email address.

By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided.

Having trouble? Click here.

Joel Embiid, star center for the Philadelphia 76ers, revealed on Thursday that he has been battling through a Bell’s Palsy diagnosis for the past 10 days, playing through the diagnosis as the Sixers feel their backs against the wall.

Embiid shared the news of his condition with the media after Game 3’s 125-113 win by Philly.

Advertisement

Bell’s Palsy leads to partial paralysis of the face. In Embiid’s case, the left side of his face has been affecting him during the ongoing series against the New York Knicks. The reigning MVP scored 50 points in Game 3, a playoff record total for Embiid, to help keep Philly alive in the series. There is no set timeline on a recovery for Embiid.

Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Wells Fargo Center on April 02, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

As part of sharing his diagnosis, Embiid noted that he’s seeking treatment but will be muscling through the nagging condition these playoffs.

“My body was just, I was just not feeling it,” Embiid said when first identifying the symptoms.

Advertisement

76ERS JOEL EMBIID DROPS 50 IN PLAYOFF WIN BUT FLAGRANT FOUL RAISES EYEBROWS

Embiid still struggles with migraines and rapid dryness in his left eye.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks to pass around Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in San Francisco.  (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)

Fans noticed the slight stiffness on Embiid’s face during Monday’s Game 2 broadcast. Embiid appeared startled during a free throw attempt when his left eye could not blink in tandem with his right eye.

VIEW MOMENT ON X

Advertisement

“Yes, it’s pretty annoying. My left side of my face, my mouth and my eye. It’s been tough. But I’m not a quitter. I’m going to keep fighting through anything. It’s unfortunate, that’s the way I look at it. But it’s not an excuse. I’ve got to keep pushing.”

Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots over Precious Achiuwa #5 of the Toronto Raptors during the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on December 22, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Embiid first noticed symptoms on April 17 after facing the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament. In this series, the center has worn glasses in postgame interviews, which Embiid admitted was due to the partial paralysis in his face.

“It hasn’t really necessarily gotten better,” Embiid added. “With the conversations that I’ve had, it could be weeks, it could be months.

Advertisement

“I just hope that it stays like this. I’ve got a beautiful face. I don’t like when my mouth is looking the other way. Unfortunate situation but everything happens for a reason.”

Sports

USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun receives controversial red card during Round of 32 match

Published

on

USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun receives controversial red card during Round of 32 match

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

U.S. men’s national team star Folarin Balogun received a red card in the second half of their Round of 32 World Cup matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night.

Balogun was making a challenge on a ball when he stepped on an opposing player’s leg.

The U.S. men’s national team is down to 10 players for the rest of the match. If the U.S. holds their 1-0 lead, Balogun will have to miss the Round of 16 game.

Balogun scored for the U.S. in the first half.

Advertisement

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

Continue Reading

Sports

Dodgers’ Will Smith won’t return before the All-Star break

Published

on

Dodgers’ Will Smith won’t return before the All-Star break

The first half of the season will conclude with Will Smith in the same place he has been for the last month: the injured list.

The Dodgers’ three-time All-Star catcher has been on the IL since June 8 because of what the Dodgers list as neck inflammation. Smith said he had been diagnosed with an inflamed disk.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he “just can’t see any world” in which Smith would return before the All-Star break, which concludes July 16.

“It’s certainly longer, I know, than all of us expected,” Roberts said. “But I don’t think it’s anything real, kind of affecting-the-season type thing.”

Roberts said Smith has not been able to accelerate his rehabilitation to the point of doing baseball activities.

Advertisement

Dalton Rushing, who has taken over as the Dodgers’ primary catcher in Smith’s absence, is batting .213 with one home run and 19 strikeouts in 18 games while Smith has been on the injured list. The Dodgers gave Rushing the day off Wednesday.

The Dodgers were 14-6 with Smith on the IL entering play Wednesday.

Also Wednesday, the team scratched shortstop Mookie Betts from the starting lineup because of a sore right wrist.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Ex-NFL reporter Dianna Russini interaction with police officer to dodge traffic ticket comes to light

Published

on

Ex-NFL reporter Dianna Russini interaction with police officer to dodge traffic ticket comes to light

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Police bodycam footage appeared to refute a claim made by former NFL reporter Dianna Russini earlier this year about what she did to get out of a traffic ticket.

Russini, whose relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel led to her resigning from her role with The Athletic in April, said on the “Stugotz and Company” show back in February that she FaceTimed the NFL coach, though she didn’t drop the name, of the officer’s favorite team after being pulled over for being on her phone.

It was a story that came up again during the New York Times’ deep dive into the Russini-Vrabel controversy, and now police bodycam footage has confirmed that wasn’t the case. However, she did name-drop a coach.

Advertisement

ESPN reporter Dianna Russini looks on during the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Sept. 16, 2018. (Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)

The footage went just over seven minutes long, as Russini was stopped in Ridgewood, New Jersey, for using her phone while driving. Not only did a FaceTime never happen, but no call at all occurred during the exchange between Russini and the officer.

What did occur, though, was Russini showing the officer texts she had been having with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, and she showed the officer her phone with the texts on it.

DIANNA RUSSINI PULLED PATHETIC MOVE WITH AN OFFICER TO GET OUT OF A TICKET, AND IT SHOULD HAVE THE NFL NERVOUS

“I’m an NFL reporter, and I just broke that Seam McDermott got fired from the Bills,” Russini told the officer almost immediately, understanding why she was being pulled over. “I was gonna pull over because I have to make calls. I know you don’t care, but I’m just letting you know my reason why. It was a work thing and it was an emergency for what I do.”

Advertisement

McDermott was fired the morning of Jan. 19, which was the date shown on the bodycam footage, after the Bills’ AFC Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos.

The officer replied that Russini had been on her phone “for a while” before pulling her over, though he did acknowledge she had a job to do.

Russini continued, telling the officer that former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll “wants the job” with the Bills. He was connected to the team given his history with Buffalo prior to joining the Giants, but they hired in-house with Joe Brady being promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach. Daboll ended up joining Robert Saleh’s staff as offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans.

Dianna Russini, left, and Mike Vrabel, right, are shown in a split composite image featuring Russini with an ESPN microphone and Vrabel on the Titans sideline wearing a headset. (Imagn Images)

Russini, then, asked if the officer was a Giants or Jets fan given the New Jersey ties. When he responded by saying he was a Vikings fan, it prompted Russini to seemingly show texts with O’Connell. The conversation, which included Russini saying the Vikings’ quarterback “sucks” and “KOC’s awesome” ultimately led to the officer letting her off with a warning.

Advertisement

“I’m gonna cut you a break on the cellphone,” the officer was heard saying. “I understand your job requires you to be on the phone a lot. Just try to wait until you get home, OK?”

PATRIOTS SAY THEY ‘FULLY SUPPORT’ MIKE VRABEL AMID LATEST IN CONTROVERSY INVOLVING DIANNA RUSSINI

The Center Square first reported Russini’s interaction with the officer.

Fox News Digital reached out to Russini and the Vikings for comment.

Ridgewood Police Chief Forest Lyons issued a statement on the matter.

Advertisement

“On January 19, 2026, at 9:40 a.m., a Ridgewood police officer conducted a motor vehicle stop on Godwin Avenue involving Ms. Dianna Russini for the use of a handheld cell phone while driving,” the statement read. “After following department protocol during the stop, and reviewing Ms. Russini’s driving history, the officer exercised his professional discretion and issued a verbal warning to Ms. Russini.

Dianna Russini attends the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Pier 48 in San Francisco, California, on Feb. 7, 2026. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

“The use of officer discretion in determining whether to issue a warning or a citation is consistent with Ridgewood Police Department policy and longstanding practice. Police officers are encouraged to use their judgment and, when appropriate, provide motorists with warnings as part of the Department’s commitment to fair, impartial and community-oriented policing.”

Russini resigned from her post at The Athletic amid mounting criticism over her relationship with Vrabel after photographs of them hugging and holding hands at a private resort in Sedona, Arizona, went viral. After initially trying to downplay it, saying “reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues,” Russini ultimately released her resignation.

After the original photos, others dating back to 2020 showed Vrabel and Russini kissing at a bar in New York City. The pictures exclusively obtained by the New York Post were taken in the early hours of March 11, 2020. 

Advertisement

“They were kissing, and they were all over each other,” an eyewitness told the outlet. “He had a ring on.”

Dianna Russini appears on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors awards presentation at YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 10, 2022. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

While Russini resigned, Vrabel was back with the Patriots after a counseling visit, which fell on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Vrabel said he had difficult conversations with his family, while also speaking with his players about the situation. The Patriots said before the draft they “fully support” Vrabel, allowing him to seek the counseling he desired despite four rounds of the draft still remaining.

Advertisement

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending