Joel Embiid was all over the place in Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, leading all scorers with 31 points and dominating for the Sixers in a win that put the Nets on the brink of elimination.
And he was able to stay the game by avoiding an incident sparked by what he did on the floor in the third quarter of Game 3 on Saturday. Embiid was called for a foul and got into it with Jared Dudley, who sparked an incident that got two players ejected on Saturday. Dudley’s series has been filled with drama, after a back and forth with Ben Simmons that extended into Saturday’s Game 3. But it’s clear the Sixers don’t think very highly of Dudley.
Embiid spoke to TNT after the game and called Dudley a “nobody” and explained why he didn’t get involved in the fracas that resulted from their on-court incident.
.@JoelEmbiid speaks with @ROSGO21 after the @sixers go up 3-1 in the series! #HereTheyCome | #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/YrIgC7LHwF
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 20, 2019
“First of all, he’s a nobody,” Embiid said. “And when opponents try to do stuff like that, you know, that’s just to get us out of the game.”
Embiid put his hands up right away and looked on as pushing and shoving spilled over into the front row of the crowd. Jimmy Butler and Dudley were ejected after the incident, which was started after Embiid was called for a foul and what was eventually determined to be a Flagrant I. Embiid also disagreed with that call.
“And I didn’t think it was a flagrant foul because I played the ball,” Embiid said. “But in that particular situation I just have to stay composed and be mature. And let it go, because my teammates need me more than they need him.”
Dudley had harsh words for Embiid and his history with fouls after the game as well.
https://twitter.com/HoopDistrictDC/status/1119737844522717185
It’s not something the two sides will find a way to agree on, but the Nets will have to find an answer for Philadelphia soon.
