Warning: Story contains coarse language
Center Joel Embiid was fined $15,000 for critical comments regarding the officiating during the Philadelphia 76ers' 110-102 defeat to the Toronto Raptors in Game 4, the NBA announced Monday.
Embiid suggested following Saturday's loss that he believed the referees favored the Raptors during their win, which kept Toronto from being swept.
"I'm going to take my own advice and not complain about fouls, but like I was doing at the end of the game: (The referees) did a great job. I admire the job that they did today," the 76ers star said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey.
"To me, it felt like they had one job coming in here tonight. And they got it done. Congrats to them, tonight."
The 28-year-old was seen clapping sarcastically at officials as he walked off the court following the defeat.
Joel giving the refs the golf clap 👀 pic.twitter.com/gs8O1pETdM
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 23, 2022
The 76ers were assessed 26 fouls in Game 4, leading to 35 free-throw attempts for the Raptors. Toronto, meanwhile, committed 20 fouls that led to 25 free throws for Philadelphia. Sixers reserve Georges Niang fouled out with just under three-and-a-half minutes remaining, while Tobias Harris finished with five fouls. No Raptors player had more than four.
Following Philadelphia's Game 1 victory, Embiid said he told Raptors head coach Nick Nurse to stop complaining to the referees during a late exchange that was caught by cameras.
"I told him, respectfully, to stop b------- about calls because I saw what he said last game," Embiid said last Monday. "I mean, if you're going to triple-team somebody all game, they're bound to get to the free-throw line. ... So, I feel like (all the) fouls were legit and probably should've been more."
