In a first-round NBA playoff game that ended today, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New York Knicks 125-114 to tie the overall score at 1-2. But Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was clearly unhappy with the scale of the game.
Embiid scored a career-high 50 points in the playoffs in this game, and several controversial free throws made him the number one public enemy for Knicks fans. Embiid fell to the ground during a defensive run in the first quarter of the game, but he wasn't honest after he fell to the ground, hugging the legs of Knicks center Mitchell Robinson in order to prevent Robinson from scoring with an easy shot. This is definitely not a move that should be on a basketball schedule, as it's easy to injure your opponent. After watching the replay, the referee gave Embiid a first-degree malicious foul, if this is a regular season game or the person who fouled is not Embiid, then this action should undoubtedly be a second-degree malicious foul action, and the person who committed the foul should have been ejected directly from the court.
Thibodeau was asked by reporters at the postgame press conference for his thoughts on the foul, suggesting that Embiid should not have just been whistled for a first-degree foul. Thibodeau replied, "Which one, the one that the referee blew, or the one they didn't?" I just want to make sure we have a clear understanding of that. ”
Thibodeau's words were full of dissatisfaction with the referee, referring to two different fouls. The second foul was still committed by Embiid, who was also Robinson, who kicked Robinson in the lower body. Knicks official media directly claimed that everything Embiid did was not accidental, and that he clearly did it on purpose.
And Thibodeau hasn't even mentioned Embiid's other foul, as he appears to have knee Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein's lower body, who fell straight to the ground in pain. If he hadn't been Embiid, if he hadn't already been picked up for a foul, it would have been a foul that would have sent him ejected, but the referees just lightly gave the seven-time All-Star an offensive foul.
The Knicks were given 25 fouls throughout the game, 7 more than the 76ers, and Embiid got 21 free throws, more than the Knicks' entire 19.