As the Philadelphia 76ers were polishing off a 129-112 home win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, things got a little chippy toward the end.
Joel Embiid, who was very much enjoying himself after scoring a career-high 49 points on 17-for-24 shooting, was dribbling out the clock to end the game. Hawks swingman Kevin Huerter then ran up from behind and swiped it from him. Embiid then appeared to throw up the middle finger at him as he was upset that he did not let the game end.
“There’s always this thing about you shouldn’t shoot the ball if you’re up 20 or something like that,” Embiid explained afterward. “I feel like it should go both ways. I’m running the clock down and I feel like the game is over. That’s why I’m doing it.”
Joel Embiid was feeling good after dropping a career-high 49 pts. Was all prepared to dribble out the clock & gloat. Then Kevin Huerter came along & stole the ball. Embiid flipped him the bird, then, after realizing he got caught up, apologized. pic.twitter.com/NvOteE3mRC
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) February 25, 2020
Huerter told Atlanta reporters that he was going to continue to keep playing no matter what. He told The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner:
There were 23 seconds left in the game. I don’t know what he wants. If he did, I’m not gonna speak on that. It’s not out of his character I guess.
Huerter said he didn't see Embiid give him the finger.
"There were 23 seconds left in the game. I don't know what he wants. If he did, I'm not gonna speak on that. It's not out of his character I guess."
Why'd he steal?
"There was a full shot clock left. I'm going to play."
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) February 25, 2020
Embiid thought Huerter should have just let the game be over. The Sixers had the game in hand and sure, there was still time on the clock, but it was already over.
“I feel like you should just be like ‘be better next time’,” he added. “I thought about it when I had the ball again, but I was like ‘I’m going to stay cool’, but I feel like it should go both ways. If the team up by 20 is running the clock off, I feel like the other team should also respect it and we just moved on. It is what it is, we got the win. That’s all I care about.”
The Sixers and the Hawks matchup for the final time on March 21 in Philadelphia. [lawrence-related id=26384,26388,26374]