In a dramatic turn of events, Philadelphia 76ers’ star Joel Embiid was ejected from Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs after receiving two technical fouls in the first half.
With just under three minutes remaining in the second quarter, Embiid was handed his second technical foul by referee Jenna Schroeder, leading to his ejection. The initial technical was issued following an argument between Embiid and Schroeder, which escalated when Embiid made incidental contact with the referee, as noted by crew chief Curtis Blair. Blair explained that Embiid was ejected due to two unsportsmanlike technical fouls.
Embiid did not make any statements regarding the incident post-game, as he left the arena before the media could engage with him. The scene on the court grew tense as an angered Embiid moved towards the officials, only to be restrained by teammate Kyle Lowry, coach Nick Nurse, and other team officials. This ejection marked another challenging moment in Embiid’s troubled season, highlighting issues such as earlier missed games due to knee soreness and a suspension following an altercation with a reporter.
During this game, Embiid was playing just his eighth match of the season and was only the fifth time that he, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey started together for the 76ers. Maxey made significant contributions with 32 points, including key plays in the final minute that helped secure Philadelphia’s 111-106 victory.
Embiid played wearing a mask due to a recent sinus fracture and managed to score nine points with three rebounds in just over 14 minutes of play, shooting only 2 of 8 from the field. In contrast, his previous performance against the Spurs on January 22 saw him set a franchise record with 70 points against the same team.
The game was not without other controversies; earlier in the second quarter, Andre Drummond was ejected by Schroeder for a foul on Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama. However, upon review, the decision was overturned as the contact was deemed incidental. Additionally, Wembanyama was initially given a technical for flopping, but this decision was also rescinded. Wembanyama, who completed the game with 26 points, nine rebounds, and eight blocks, commented on the incident, expressing surprise at the foul call as it was simply a case of him being tripped.
Philadelphia’s victory brings to light both the team’s resilience and the ongoing need to manage star player Embiid’s contributions effectively, given his current health challenges and disciplinary issues. His absence from the game now throws into question how the 76ers will navigate upcoming matches without his presence, considering his average of 22.3 points per game.
The ejection of Joel Embiid adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging season for the 76ers. As the team navigates through Embiid’s health and disciplinary challenges, they rely heavily on the performances of their remaining leaders like Tyrese Maxey to continue their successes.
Source: Local10
