Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers defeated Montrezl Harrell and the L.A. Clippers on Wednesday night, but the Sixers center had some parting words for the Clippers big man.
The New Year's Day battle saw Embiid finish with 28 points, 19 rebounds, three assists, and three blocked shots in 35 minutes of action. Meanwhile, Harrell held his own in just 21 minutes of action, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists. Harrell was instrumental in the Clippers' huge, fourth quarter comeback, but Embiid came up with a couple of clutch buckets to hold them off.
After the game, Embiid was asked about the physicality of the game, and while he said he enjoys a physical battle, he also went on to take a jab at Harrell.
“We didn’t get physical,” Joel Embiid responded. “I turned the ball over once or twice, I think he scored once, and he was all over my face. I guess he didn’t see what I was doing all game, but I'm happy about the win. I didn’t pay him no mind. That’s nobody I should worry about, not even close. We got the win, I'm happy about it.”
#Sixers @JoelEmbiid on getting physical with #Clippers’ @MONSTATREZZ – “We didn’t get physical. I turned the ball over once and he was all over my face. I guess he didn’t see what I was doing all game. I didn’t pay him no mind. That’s nobody I should worry about, not even close.” pic.twitter.com/4I9ARDMlZl
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 2, 2019
Some harsh words from Embiid, but the two plays in question (the turnovers by Embiid and the bucket by Harrell on Embiid) were pretty impressive for a guy who ‘didn't get physical.'
Montrezl Harrell with great defense on Embiid, PURE HEART pic.twitter.com/t3EInfm5nm
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) January 2, 2019
Montrezl Harrell going at Joel Embiid, YES pic.twitter.com/b29eAGNuBJ
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) January 2, 2019
The Clippers fell in the season series, 2-0, and it's probably a good thing they only play four times because L.A. had no one who could defend Embiid one-on-one in the first half. The second half saw more double-teams coming, which forced the ball out of Embiid's hands and into other guys'.
The Clippers will have a pair of days off before taking on the Phoenix Suns in Arizona on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Sixers take on the Suns in Phoenix on Thursday night, the second game of a back-to-back set for Philly.
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