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In a dramatic NBA showdown on Monday, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid was ejected from the game after an altercation with a female referee. The Philadelphia 76ers secured a 111-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, with Embiid's early exit prompting a strong performance from Tyrese Maxey.
The much-anticipated match between Embiid, the Cameroonian big man, and France’s rising star Victor Wembanyama took an unexpected turn late in the first half. Embiid, who had only nine points in 14 minutes of play, was whistled for his third foul by referee Jenna Schroeder after charging into Wembanyama. Following a heated exchange with Schroeder, Embiid was issued two technical fouls, resulting in his ejection from the game.
The situation escalated as Embiid, visibly frustrated, ripped off his facial mask—worn due to a sinus fracture—and shouted in anger while being physically restrained from confronting the officials.
“It was a wild first half,” said 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, commenting on the chaotic sequence of events.
Maxey Steps Up
With Embiid out of the game, Maxey took over, delivering a remarkable performance. The 76ers guard contributed 32 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, leading the team to victory. Maxey’s late-game surge, which included a steal, a dunk, a 3-pointer, and a free throw, helped seal the win for Philadelphia.
Maxey shared his feelings about the victory, saying, “It’s big time. We’re learning to play without him… We’ve got to change the game, come a little faster, play a little harder and gain rebounds.” He also expressed admiration for Embiid, calling him “big brother” and adding, “It’s love, man.”
After the game, Embiid joined Maxey on the court, offering him a hug in appreciation of his performance during the final stretch.
Controversial Moments and Wembanyama’s Solid Performance
The drama began earlier in the game when Spurs' rookie Victor Wembanyama fell to the court after a collision with Philadelphia’s Andre Drummond. Drummond was initially ejected for a second technical foul but the decision was reversed upon video review, with Wembanyama being ruled for a flop, allowing Drummond to return to the game.
Wembanyama, despite the chaos, finished with 26 points, nine rebounds, and eight blocked shots. He was particularly dominant in the first half, swatting away a career-high seven blocks, including four in the first quarter.
Other NBA Highlights
In another surprising turn of events, the injury-plagued Orlando Magic stunned the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, with a 108-104 win. Despite Jaylen Brown’s 35-point performance for the Celtics, the Magic pulled off the upset, with German player Tristan da Silva contributing 18 points to the victory.
Orlando’s Johnathan Isaac dedicated the win to his teammate, Mo Wagner, who had suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier in the week.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers extended their dominant season with a 124-113 home win over Utah, improving to an impressive 26-4. Darius Garland led the Cavs with 23 points, while Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley added 22 points each. Cleveland has now won five consecutive games and holds a 16-1 record at home.
Monday’s NBA action was filled with drama, from Joel Embiid’s controversial ejection to Tyrese Maxey’s clutch performance, and a series of upsets and highlights across the league. As the season continues to unfold, it’s clear that the 2024 NBA campaign is shaping up to be one for the books.
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