During Game 3 between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, a frightening incident occurred involving Joel Embiid and Grant Williams. In the heat of the moment, Embiid accidentally stomped on Williams’ head, resulting in a bloodied mouth for the Celtics forward.
With just five minutes left in the fourth quarter and Boston leading by eight points, James Harden ran a switch play with Embiid. However, Jaylen Brown was able to tip the ball, causing both Brown and Williams to dive for it, while Embiid also seemingly tried his best to get possession of the ball.
Joel Embiid just stomped on Grant Williams’ head 😬😬 pic.twitter.com/gXAv3glmGV
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) May 6, 2023
Unfortunately, the newly-crowned MVP tripped and fell to the floor, unknowingly stepping on Williams’ head in the process. It appeared that the impact with the hardwood floor busted Williams’ lip, and he had to come out of the game to receive medical attention.
Brown was called for a personal foul, but surprisingly, Joel Embiid wasn’t assessed with a flagrant foul. It remains to be seen how the NBA will approach the incident, especially considering how Draymond Green was suspended for one game after appearing to stomp on Domantas Sabonis in Game 2 of the first-round series between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Embiid has been involved in a controversial incident during the playoffs. He apparently kicked Nic Claxton in the groin area during their first-round matchup against the Brooklyn Nets but was not ejected from the game.
The NBA takes player safety seriously, and it will be interesting to see how they handle this situation. While the incident appeared to be accidental, the league has previously punished players for similar incidents, such as James Harden and Dillon Brooks being ejected for hitting opposing players below the belt.
In conclusion, the incident between Joel Embiid and Grant Williams during Game 3 of the 76ers-Celtics playoff series was a frightening moment. It remains to be seen how the NBA will approach the situation, but the league has previously punished players for similar incidents. Regardless of the outcome, player safety must always remain a top priority.
“Joel Embiid Accepts MVP Trophy but Celtics Prevail in Emotional Night for Sixers”
Despite Joel Embiid’s 30 points and 13 rebounds, the Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Boston Celtics 114-102 in Game 3 of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series on Friday. The loss gave Boston a 2-1 series lead, as they regained home-court advantage with a second straight victory after dropping Game 1 in Boston.
The Wells Fargo Center was electric as Embiid accepted his Most Valuable Player trophy in a pregame ceremony, addressing the crowd while holding his toddler son, Arthur, clad in a “My dad is the MVP” shirt. The fans cheered loudly, chanting “M-V-P” for the Cameroonian center.
However, the Celtics were not deterred by the Sixers’ emotional high. Jayson Tatum scored 27 points and added 10 rebounds and five assists, bouncing back from a seven-point outing in Game 2. Jaylen Brown scored 23 points, and Al Horford added 17 to lead Boston’s six players in double figures.
The Celtics got off to a quick start, powering to a 14-4 lead, and although the Sixers kept it close and led by one after the first quarter, they never regained the lead after halftime. Embiid’s tip-in basket with 3:51 remaining pulled Philadelphia within four points, but Horford responded with a three-pointer, and Tatum sank a turnaround basket to put Boston up by nine again.
Despite the loss, Embiid looks to remain focused on his ultimate goal, saying, “We gotta come out, be aggressive, play hard, and try to get Game 4. It’s a must-win.”
