Embiid was hurt when teammate Markelle Fultz accidentally drove his right shoulder into his face in the first half of Philadelphia’s win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

Initially diagnosed with a facial contusion, Embiid left the game and didn’t return. He was later hospitalised. The Sixers said a CT scan revealed the broken eye socket bone.

Embiid, who passed initial concussion tests in the locker room, has also been diagnosed with a concussion after symptoms developed.

A major hint that the injury was serious had come on Wednesday night when Embiid posted a brief video of himself in hospital on Instagram captioned “Not Good”.

“Surgery will be performed in the coming days to address the orbital fracture and further updates will be provided as appropriate,” the 76ers said in a statement.

The 76ers were scheduled to travel to Atlanta on Thursday for a Friday game against the Hawks. They subsequently face the Hornets in Charlotte on Sunday.

Embiid is averaging 22.9 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks and has been a key factor in putting the Sixers back in the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.

The 24-year-old from Cameroon was taken third overall in the 2014 draft but missed two full seasons as a result of two foot surgeries before he could get his NBA career underway and played just 31 games last season as a knee injury brought his campaign to an early end.