The NBA world was not joyful after 76ers famous person Joel Embiid dodged an ejection after kicking Nets middle Nic Claxton within the groin early in Recreation 3 of the groups’ first-round playoff sequence.
After the 2 males received tangled beneath the basket early within the 76ers’ win and Embiid fell to the bottom, he appeared to kick Claxton instantly between the legs – however he was addressed a Flagrant 1 foul as a substitute of a Flagrant 2, which allowed him to stay within the sport.
Many, together with the “Contained in the NBA” crew, believed the play warranted an ejection – particularly after the stomp that received Warriors star Draymond Inexperienced ejected (and suspended) throughout this week’s sport towards the Kings.
“I believed he ought to have been ejected. I believed that was a Flagrant 2. I feel his was worse than Draymond’s,” Barkley stated on the present.
“…I believed he tried to kick [Claxton] in his personal elements. He ought to have gotten ejected.”
“Thanks,” Shaquille O’Neal stated in settlement.
Later within the sport, nevertheless, the officers ejected James Harden after he appeared to elbow Nets’ Royce O’Neale in an identical space to the place Embiid kicked Claxton.
Harden’s foul appeared far much less egregious than what Embiid did.
The Sixers nonetheless have been in a position to rally for a 102-97 victory, erasing a five-point deficit they confronted with about two minutes left within the sport.
Embiid made a key block on a Spencer Dinwiddie layup within the last seconds that preserved a two-point Sixers benefit.
It stays to be seen if Embiid – or Harden, for that method – will face extra punishment from the league on account of the kick.
Barkley and O’Neal actually appear to assume Embiid ought to.
