Ben Simmons' first game against Joel Embiid got chippy
Ben Simmons' first game in Philly against Joel Embiid was always going to be intense. No one expected it to be this chippy.
The first quarter of Nets-76ers featured four technical fouls, and there were seven total throughout the game. The biggest dustup happened between the teams' starting centers, when Joel Embiid and Nic Claxton got double technicals, shortly after Claxton emphatically rejected Embiid's dunk attempt.
Embiid went up for a jam midway through the first quarter and got packed by Claxton. The 76ers big man fell to the ground, but he ended up with an uncontested layup when Matisse Thybulle's steal disrupted the subsequent Brooklyn fast break.
The play left Embiid shook — and not just physically. Embiid started jawing at Claxton moments later, and the officials called him for a technical foul. Claxton must have said something equally intense back, because he also got T'd up.
The Philadelphia crowd booed Simmons whenever he touched the ball. They got even louder whenever Simmons matched up on Embiid on a switch. When Simmons got whistled for a technical after shoving Georges Niang, the crowd was happier than on half-price cheesesteak day at Geno's.
Since this game was taking place in Philadelphia, the fans erupted with a profane chant about their former star.
Not to be outdone, Kyrie Irving got into a verbal exchange with a Sixers fan as well.
Starting things off early, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn got a technical less than three minutes into the game. He spent a timeout, seemingly so he could spend the entire break complaining to the officials.
James Harden also got a technical in the first quarter, after not seeming to do much, so perhaps the Claxton call was to even out the technicals while telling both teams to knock it off. After all, commissioner Adam Silver was in attendance, and the referees needed to look like they were maintaining control in front of their boss.
Perhaps appropriately for a game that featured 45 personal fouls and seven technicals, the game came down to free throws. The 76ers went 35-of-36 from the line in their 137-133 victory, including perfect shooting down the stretch, when the Nets repeatedly cut the lead to two points.
Embiid finished 13-of-13 from the line and had 26 points, while Simmons went a surprising 2-of-3 from the line and had 12 points. Of course, it wouldn't be Simmons in Philly without him passing up an open dunk.
Some things never change.
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