Embiid: Nets 'took the Nick Nurse route of begging for free throws' after Game 1
Joel Embiid has a long memory.
Following the Philadelphia 76ers' Game 2 win Monday over the Brooklyn Nets, the 76ers superstar referenced a familiar foe in relation to Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn's complaints about the referees after Game 1.
"I saw, after the game last time, they kind of took the Nick Nurse route of begging for free throws and calling out the referees, and they did come out, and they got a lot of calls, which I guess is good for them," Embiid told reporters.
Vaughn said after Saturday's Game 1 loss that he hoped officials "would be calling travel and three seconds" on Embiid in Game 2.
Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse complained during last year's first-round series loss to Philadelphia, saying, "If we're legal defensively, we've gotta have a call, or we don't have a chance. Nobody can guard (Embiid) if they're gonna let him run you over."
Referees called 14 personal fouls on the 76ers in Game 2's first half compared to nine for the Nets. Brooklyn held Embiid to just eight points and led 49-44 at the break.
Philadelphia turned things around after halftime, outscoring Brooklyn 52-35 en route to a double-digit victory. Embiid finished with 20 points, 19 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks.
The series shifts to Brooklyn for Game 3 on Thursday.