The Philadelphia 76ers came into Game 3 with plenty of pressure. They were down two games against the New York Knicks, and a loss here would put them dangerously close to a sweep.
It was clear to everyone watching that this game was a must-win for Philly, and they managed to pull it off with a solid win. While Knicks players are still confident to make the next round, the win is big for Joel Embiid and the Sixers since they want to make the NBA Finals.
However, an incident happened during the game that had plenty of fans turn against the criticize Embiid for his attitude.
Fans criticize Joel Embiid for his rough foul during the Philadelphia 76ers’ Game 3 win
It was evident in Embiid’s Game 3 performance that he didn’t want to fall into a 0-3 deficit against the Knicks. He had a solid night, scoring an incredible 50 points to complement his eight rebounds, four assists, and one block.
However, his attitude got the better of him during one of the Sixers’ defensive sequences. Embiid fell to the floor when the ball got deep in the paint. In his desperation, he swiped at Mitchell Robinson’s legs to prevent him from scoring.
Joel was slapped with a Flagrant 1 for the dirty play, one of the three fouls he committed during the game. However, fans didn’t let him off the hook as they criticized him on social media.
“If @NBAonTNT doesn’t talk about that dirty play by Embiid, then we know what’s up,” said one Knicks fan.
“First you flop. Then you want to pull on someone who missed half a season’s ankle mid dunk right after? I’m sorry Joel Embiid will never beat the dirty player allegations. Should’ve been Flagrant 2,” another Knicks fan added.
“Rough look for Embiid. That’s dirty,” a third person chimed in.
“That’s a dirty play from Embiid,” said Fox Sports’ Yaron Weitzman.
While it’s true that Embiid played a bit roughly, it’s undeniable that his grit helped the Philadelphia 76ers even the series. They’ll be looking to build on their momentum and win the rest of their games.
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