PHILADELPHIA–The Philadelphia 76ers matched up with the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night at home coming out of the All-Star break looking and they found themselves locked in a physical battle.
Both teams were chirping at each other and talking a little trash and there were a few times when both teams had to be separated by the officials. Most notably, Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks got into it with James Harden at the beginning of the game and then he got into it with Joel Embiid at the end.
With Philadelphia leading 108-105 with 9.4 seconds left, Jaren Jackson Jr. fouled Tobias Harris. Embiid and Brooks then got into it and there was some shoving before the teams were separated.
“It was a chippy game, but I think when you play Memphis, it’s a chippy game,” said coach Doc Rivers. “They talk a lot. We, unfortunately, talk a lot as well, but the last one I didn’t like because if you get a tech in that situation, and they don’t, that’s what we’re saying. Walk away on that.”
Embiid wanted nothing to do with the drama the Grizzlies brought to the table.
“Nothing,” said Embiid when asked what happened with Brooks. “Just guys, whatever. Nothing.”
When asked about what happened with Dillon Brooks at the end of the game, Joel Embiid simply said: “Nothing…just guys…whatever. Nothing.” #Sixers
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) February 24, 2023
The Sixers will need to control their emotions better in some games, but they are human beings at the of the day and they will have to use this as a learning experience.
“It’s an emotional game,” added Tyrese Maxey. “We’re all human beings in the day. We all have pride. So guys are gonna get physical, get chippy, but that’s just a part of the game. That was a playoff-atmosphere game. I think they’re number two in the West. So it’s like that’s a playoff atmosphere and both of those teams don’t want to lose the game and that’s how it should be.”
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