Joel Embiid Likely to Wear Mask with No Shield for Game 5 vs. Celtics

Joel Embiid's mask may have undergone some alterations before Game 5 between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics on Wednesday night at TD Garden.

According to 94 WIP's Jon Johnson, Embiid was likely to wear his mask without the plastic visor portion that had been protecting his eyes.

Embiid, who suffered a fractured orbital bone March 28 against the New York Knicks, has been wearing the league-approved mask since he returned for postseason play April 19 for Game 3 of his team's first-round series against the Miami Heat.

Speaking to reporters prior to Game 4, Sixers head coach Brett Brown said it was clear to him that the new facial accessory had been hampering Embiid's effectiveness.

"The mask, there is no doubt that that has some level of an impact," he said, per NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jessica Camerato (h/t Yahoo Sports). "I think on his three-point shot, as much as anything, I'm sure you could connect some dots with post play or jump hooks or turn-and-face, how can it not? I mean, how can it not? But I think he's done a great job of playing through it."

Embiid entered Wednesday's win-or-go-home tilt averaging 22.0 points and 14.5 rebounds on 42.9 percent shooting from the field, including 29.4 percent from three, through the first four games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.