Joel Embiid Avoids Ejection After Kicking Nic Claxton in 76ers Win Over Nets

• Fans are baffled as to why Joel Embiid wasn't ejected for kicking Nic Claxton
• The Philadelphia 76ers star had reacted angrily to the Brooklyn Nets center
• The Sixers won the hotly contested game 102-97 to take a 3-0 series lead

Philadelphia 76ers superstar, Joel Embiid received a flagrant 1 for kicking Nix Claxton in Game 3 of their best-of-seven series against the Brooklyn Nets. James Harden was also ejected from the game for a flagrant 2 foul on Royce O'Neale.

Harden's controversial ejection overshadowed Embiid's actions early in the game, although many fans online believe the Philadelphia player should've received a harsher punishment.

The Sixers sealed a hard-fought 102-97 win in what was a tightly contested game from the start.

Three minutes into the game, Nets center, Claxton received a lob pass from Mikal Bridges and dunked on Embiid, resulting in the 76ers star falling to the ground.

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Claxton attempted to step over Embiid, but the MVP contender was having none of that. The Sixers center extended his leg upwards and kicked the Nets man.

After review from the officials, the Cameroonian was given a flagrant 2, per CBS Sports.

The punishment was surprising, considering Golden State Warriors veteran, Draymond Green was ejected for stepping on Sacramento Kings big man, Domantas Sabonis a few days ago. Green was later suspended for Game 3, per ESPN.

Embiid said he doesn't remember the play, adding the Nets were trying to bait him. He finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 38 minutes.

"The whole game, you could see what they were doing," said Embiid. "Just trying to get a rise out of me. I'm too valuable; especially after the first [play], I just understood I'm too valuable to get into this stuff," he said, via ESPN.

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Fan's reactions to Embiid-Claxton scuffle

Many fans wanted Embiid to be ejected, accusing the NBA officials of their inconsistencies.

@EvonCodes:

"Draymond would have been suspended for the season."

@KoeeoaddiThere:

"That should be an ejection for Embiid and a technical foul on Claxton."

@hoodie_arw:

"I love Embiid, but this is a clear double standard."

@PCJokic:

"Not consistent with Draymonds punishment. Not saying either is right or wrong, but once again the league has awful, inconsistent, biased refereeing."

@naltns:

“Incredibly bad call. He should have gotten the same punishment Draymond did.”

Embiid named MVP finalist

Sports Brief earlier reported on 76ers superstar, Embiid being named as a finalist for this season's MVP award.

He has finished second in MVP voting for the last two seasons but is the favorite to scoop the award this time.

Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee Bucks star, Giannis Antetokounmpo are the other two finalists.