Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid faced an early exit in Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, as he was ejected after receiving two technical fouls in the first half. Referee Jenna Schroeder issued the ejection with just under three minutes left in the second quarter, following Embiid’s argument with her over a foul call. Despite being close to the official, it remains unclear if he made any actual contact.
Following the ejection, Embiid displayed visible frustration, charging toward the officials and needing to be restrained by teammate Kyle Lowry, along with coach Nick Nurse and several staff members.
This incident comes during a challenging season for Embiid, who has played only in his eighth game due to various health concerns, including left knee soreness, a suspension stemming from a locker room altercation with a reporter, and a recent sinus fracture sustained on December 10. The game was significant as it marked only the fifth occasion this season that Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers’ core players, shared a starting lineup.
Playing while wearing a mask due to his recent injury, Embiid managed just nine points and three rebounds in over 14 minutes of play, shooting 25% from the field. This performance starkly contrasted with their previous encounter in January, where Embiid had an extraordinary game, scoring 70 points against the Spurs—setting a franchise record.
In Monday’s match, Embiid asserted himself early on against Spurs’ center Victor Wembanyama, but his performance suggested lingering rust from his absence. Just before his ejection, he was called for an offensive foul, which escalated tensions between him and the officials.
Interestingly, this was the second ejection of the quarter by referee Schroeder; however, the first one concerning Andre Drummond was later overturned after a video review. The game witnessed an unusual sequence where Wembanyama was initially assessed with a technical for flopping, but this was later rescinded as well.
Entering the game, Embiid held an average of 22.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists for the season, but the 76ers have struggled, recording only two wins in the seven games he has played.
Overall, while this game may have ended on a frustrating note for Embiid and the 76ers, there is still hope as the team aims to find their rhythm and capitalize on the collective talent of their top players as they move forward this season. After all, overcoming adversity can often pave the way to greater achievements down the line.