Joel Embiid Left Arena Without Discussing Ejection, Wemby Talks 'Flop' on Drummond

A much-hyped showdown between Joel Embiid and Victor Wembanyama took a strange turn Monday when the Philadelphia 76ers big man was ejected for two technical fouls and his teammate, Andre Drummond, was temporarily ejected before being allowed to return for an incident involving the San Antonio Spurs big man.

Embiid was issued an offensive foul while driving on Wembanyama and then received a technical foul for arguing. He wasn't done, though, and charged toward the officials after heading back toward the bench and received his second technical.

ESPN's Michael C. Wright noted the seven-time All-Star did not address the incident with reporters in the aftermath.

As for Drummond, he was given two technical fouls and also ejected for pushing Wembanyama to the floor and then appearing to do so again. However, officials rescinded the second technical foul and ejection upon video review. They also issued Wembanyama a technical foul for flopping before rescinding that technical and the ensuing free throw from Tyrese Maxey.

"He just stepped on my foot, and I fell," Wembanyama told reporters. "I didn't expect the foul to be called. I just fell."

Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse said, "the whole thing was really strange."

Crew chief Curtis Blair addressed both incidents in the pool report interview after the game and said Embiid was ejected because "he was given two unsportsmanlike technical fouls, which by rule is an ejection."

Blair also said any potential contact between Embiid and the official was "incidental in nature," while adding that Drummond was allowed back into the game because "after review it was determined that Drummond stepped on Wembanyama's foot and it was deemed incidental contact."

That didn't stop Philadelphia fans from booing Wembanyama the rest of the game.

He still thrived while posting 26 points, nine rebounds, eight blocks and four assists, although his Spurs lost 111-106. Maxey helped pick up the slack for Embiid following the ejection and tallied 32 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals.

Embiid posted nine points and three rebounds in just his second game back from a sinus fracture.

He has played just eight of his team's 27 games this season, which is one reason the 76ers have struggled on the way to a 10-17 start that doesn't even have them in play-in tournament position.