The 76ers-Nets Playoff Game Was Filled With Strange Ejections

(CTN News) – It was always going to be a high stakes game in Game 3 of the Philadelphia 76ers versus Brooklyn Nets series in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

It was decided that the 76ers-Nets would have to win Game 3 in order to advance to the next round after Philadelphia took a 2-0 series lead following their win at home.

With a 102-97 victory over the 76ers-Nets, the 76ers have taken a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. Despite Philadelphia’s victory, there was plenty of drama, as one Sixer star was ejected, another star should have been ejected, and Brooklyn also lost a key player due to ejection.

The situation became strange immediately as well. After just a few minutes of play, Mikal Bridges dribbled through an alley-oop to Nic Claxton. Embiid was dunked on by Claxton, who then stepped over him as he lay on the floor. Claxton was kicked by Embiid as he did this.

The flagrant-1 was to Embiid, while the technical foul was applied to Claxton. Later, this would be relevant.

The following two images show Embiid kicking Claxton from two different perspectives.

Later in the game, Harden would lose his star status when he was ejected after receiving one of the softest flagrant-two calls you have ever seen.

Harden was ejected for a flagrant-2 with 13 seconds remaining in the third quarter, while the Sixers were trying to get back in front after blowing a lead and possibly making contact with their defender’s groin.

It is somewhat surprising that someone was ejected for this in a playoff game. Here is a video you can view for yourself:

In the third quarter, the 76ers-Nets rallied to take the lead heading into the fourth, and now Harden was out for the game. After another ejection, Claxton dunked on Embiid and then flexed on him a few minutes later, the game would once again change.

In light of the fact that it was his second technical foul of the game, the refs gave him a technical foul for excessive celebration, and he was immediately ejected.

As a result of Claxton’s ejection, the Sixers went on a 20-10 run to end the game and take a 76ers- 3-0 lead in the series.

After the game, Harden was still upset and confused about his ejection. According to him, he did not even think he committed a foul or a flagrant two.

Many people believed that Embiid should have been ejected for the kick. Was Harden’s call made up by the officials?

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