Philadelphia 76ers Triumph Over San Antonio Spurs Amidst Chaotic Ejections
PHILADELPHIA — In a game that was as much about the drama as it was about the basketball, the Philadelphia 76ers managed to rally and secure a victory against the San Antonio Spurs with a final score of 111-106. The game was marked by a tumultuous first half that saw two ejections, including that of star player Joel Embiid, who was sent off after receiving two quick technical fouls for disputing a charge call. In a bizarre twist, teammate Andre Drummond was also ejected, only to have the decision reversed later in the evening.
The incident unfolded when Embiid, driving to the basket, collided with San Antonio’s rising star Victor Wembanyama, sending the young French player sprawling to the floor. The referees called a charging foul on Embiid with 2:59 left in the first half, which sparked a heated reaction from the 76ers’ center.
Embiid’s protest earned him a technical foul from referee Jenna Schroeder as he made his way to the Philadelphia bench. However, the situation escalated when Embiid, visibly upset, charged back towards the officials, prompting Schroeder to issue a second technical foul, resulting in Embiid’s ejection from the game. This marked only the second ejection of Embiid’s career.
After the game, crew chief Curtis Blair explained to a pool reporter that there was “incidental contact with both of them” during the altercation, but clarified that “there was nothing that warranted any further punishment.” Despite this, 76ers coach Nick Nurse expressed frustration, noting that he never received a clear explanation for Embiid’s ejection. “I couldn’t ever really get to the referee that called it,” Nurse said. “So, I was asking the other guys and they were saying to ask her, and I never really got a chance. I just assume it was [for] arguing or whatever.”
Blair confirmed that Embiid was ejected for two unsportsmanlike technical fouls. At the time of his ejection, Embiid, who was playing with a protective mask due to a sinus fracture, had contributed nine points and three rebounds in 14 minutes, shooting 2-for-8. He entered the game with averages of 22.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists.
The first half also saw another ejection drama involving Drummond. Initially, Drummond was called for a technical foul after a physical exchange with Wembanyama under the basket. Moments later, he appeared to push Wembanyama again, leading to a second technical foul and an ejection. However, after a video review, the officials rescinded Drummond’s ejection and instead assessed Wembanyama with a technical foul for flopping. Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey made the free throw, but the officials later rescinded the “unsportsmanlike flop” technical, removed the point from the 76ers’ total, and restarted the game.
“The whole thing was really strange,” Nurse commented on the sequence of events. According to the pool report, it was determined that Drummond had stepped on Wembanyama’s foot, and the contact was deemed incidental. Drummond, who had already left for the locker room, was seen on the broadcast putting his jersey back on as he returned to the court.
Wembanyama, reflecting on the incident, said, “He just stepped on my foot, and I fell. I didn’t expect the foul to be called. I just fell.” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, filling in for Gregg Popovich, who is recovering from a stroke, concurred, stating, “I don’t think it was a foul on them, and I don’t think it was a flop [on Wembanyama]. That’s kind of how I saw it up to that point.”
Despite the controversies, the game continued, with Philadelphia fans booing Wembanyama every time he touched the ball. Wembanyama finished with an impressive 26 points, nine rebounds, and eight blocks. However, it was Maxey who stole the show, scoring 32 points and making two crucial plays in the final minute to help the 76ers complete their comeback.
After the game, Embiid, who was playing in just his eighth game of the season, returned to the court to celebrate with his teammates, smiling despite the earlier ejection. He did not address the media afterward, as he had left the arena before reporters entered the locker room for postgame interviews.
Originally Written by: Michael C. Wright
