Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers react to officiating in Game 3
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NEW YORK — Game 3 on Thursday between the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers, the 76ers won 102-97, was eventful for a number of reasons. For starters, it was one of those games that was chippy from the start as Nets center Nic Claxton and 76ers superstar big man Joel Embiid had to be separated just a few minutes into the contest.
Claxton received an alley-oop from Mikal Bridges and Claxton was able to finish the lob pass with a nice dunk over Embiid. Over the course of the play, Embiid fell to the ground and Claxton took that opportunity to step over Embiid, most likely in an effort to assert his dominance early on. Embiid took exception to that action and kicked Claxton to create some space which led to both players having to be separated. Embiid was assessed a flagrant foul 1 upon review while Claxton was given a technical foul for the altercation.
Later in the game, with 13 seconds left in the third quarter, James Harden was on the receiving end of a flagrant foul 2 after elbowing Royce O’Neale in the groin area. Then, with 8:48 left in the fourth quarter, Claxton was assessed his second technical foul after staring Embiid down after a dunk. To put it best, the officiating was questioned by everyone involved in the game.
Nets coach Jacque Vaughn’s reaction to Joel Embiid staying in the game after kicking Nic Claxton
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in my career before. For a guy (Embiid) to intentionally kick someone (Claxton) in an area that none of us want to be kicked at or towards and for him to continue to play. I’ve never seen that before. In a game and a guy continues to be able to play. Intentional.”
Spencer Dinwiddie on Embiid staying in the game
“Probably just because of the Draymond precedent, very surprised. But what am I gonna do?”
Jacque Vaughn on Nic Claxton getting ejected in the fourth quarter
“I conversed after the first tech; no hanging on the rim, no nothing extra to get himself kicked out just because I knew and felt…
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