NBA Ref Explains Joel Embiid Ejection, Andre Drummond Return After 76ers vs. Spurs

The showdown between Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid and San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama came to an early end when the former was ejected in the first half of his team's 111-106 victory on Monday, and one of the officials explained what happened.

Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports relayed the pool report interview between crew chief Curtis Blair and Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer in which Blair said Embiid was ejected because "he was given two unsportsmanlike technical fouls, which by rule is an ejection."

Blair also addressed whether Embiid made contact with an official and said, "after postgame review there is incidental contact with both of them, but it was incidental in nature. There was nothing that warranted any further punishment. It was incidental in nature."

Andre Drummond was also ejected and then allowed back into the game, and Blair said that happened because "after review it was determined that Drummond stepped on Wembanyama's foot and it was deemed incidental contact."

Fortunately for Embiid, his team still delivered a win.

He finished with nine points and three rebounds on 2-of-8 shooting from the field and 1-of-4 shooting from deep before the ejection, but Tyrese Maxey picked up the slack with 32 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals on 12-of-25 shooting from the field and 5-of-11 shooting from deep.

That was enough to overcome 26 points, nine rebounds, eight blocks and four assists from Wembanyama.

The Spurs star at least won the battle of the big men, but he would surely trade it for an actual victory in the game.

It was a much-needed win for Philadelphia, which improved to 10-17 on what has been a disappointing campaign. There is still plenty of time to turn things around, but it certainly isn't battling at the top of the Eastern Conference like it hoped to be at the start of the season.

If Maxey continues to play like he did Monday and Embiid remains healthy and avoids more ejections, the 76ers still have the talent to move up the standings. Perhaps Monday's win can be something of a turning point.