The NBA league office did not sanction Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons for his role in a scuffle between teammate Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both big men engaged in a wrestling match on Wednesday night, as the teams faced off, resulting in their consequent ejection from the game in the third quarter.

Simmons has pinned Towns to the hardwood and held him in a chokehold-like maneuver, but the NBA deemed him a peacemaker after he had told Towns to “cool off” in the midst of the fight, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

“By deciding not to discipline Ben Simmons, the league ruled that the All-Star guard did not technically have Towns in a chokehold while he was on top of him. After footage and investigatory material, the league ruled he was playing “peacemaker” and had one arm around Towns and the other hand on Towns’ chest. This conclusion came after the league continued to review footage and interviews.
As one source involved with the altercation told The Athletic, “(Simmons) was trying to separate everyone and told KAT in his ear to just cool off.”

Timberwolves officials argued that Simmons had endangered their franchise player by attempting to choke him and releasing him just in time once the officials had cleared players and coaches from the scene.

Some were expecting Simmons to receive a potential suspension for his role in the fight, but referee claims of him acting as a “peacemaker” were corroborated throughout the league's investigation of the incident.

There has not been any prior bad blood between Embiid and Towns; two of the league's most dominant big men. Neither is there any history between Simmons and Towns, who are reportedly good friends off the court.