Eagles fans prevent Rockets rookie from sleeping ahead of 76ers matchup
Philadelphia fans didn't get a Super Bowl win, but at least they kept the Sixers' opponents up late.
Rookie Jabari Smith Jr. posted on his Instagram about the Eagles fans filling the streets below his hotel room and pleaded for peace and quiet.
"Can y'all just go to sleep?" asked Smith, whose Rockets play the 76ers Monday night in Philadelphia. "I got (Joel) Embiid tomorrow, y'all are out beating drums!"
Even a fully rested Smith is giving up two inches and 60 pounds to Embiid, who was just named to replace Kevin Durant as an All-Star starter, his sixth straight All-Star start.
With the Eagles losing a tight Super Bowl in the final seconds Sunday, the fans figure to be fired up.
In the teams' first meeting, Smith's Rockets prevailed, though it wasn't through stopping Embiid. The Sixers center had 39 points before fouling out at the end of the first overtime, in the Sixers' 132-123 double-OT loss. Smith had 16 points and 11 rebounds, taking most of his shots from out of Embiid's reach behind the three-point line.
Smith "reported" all night on Instagram, commenting that fans were "fighting each other."
It's not clear whether Smith voiced an opinion on the controversial defensive holding call late that allowed the Chiefs to run out the clock before the game-winning field goal. When he faces Embiid Monday, we expect Smith will have to resort to some jersey-grabbing and defensive holding of his own.
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