Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid and Marcus Smart got tangled up underneath the paint and things got physical quickly in the Celtics-Sixers opening matchup.

But at the end of the day, his Celtics were able to come away with an opening night victory. The sequence resulted in a technical foul being issued to Marcus Smart while Joel Embiid was able to walk away without repercussions. "My arm was still stuck in there and he tries to break it. I could have cracked his head open, but I didn't." In what was a surprise to virtually no one, the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics matchup featured a fracas between a few of the features stars. And I’m the only one who gets a tech.

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid had a small dust-up early in the third quarter of the C's' 126-117 ...

... I could've cracked his head open, but I didn't." James Harden hit the technical free throw, and Embiid hit a jumper to put the 76ers up 66-63, and that ended the sequence on that end of the court. pic.twitter.com/Npnn7xJaYL

Jaylen Brown was one of the Celtics players to come to Smart's aid, sharing some words with Embiid in the process. He also spoke about the incident postgame, in ...

Jaylen Brown was one of the Celtics players to come to Smart’s aid, sharing some words with Embiid in the process. The duo got tied up following a Philadelphia rebound, with Embiid ripping away from Smart while the guard’s arm was still locked in on the ball. Smart and 76ers star Joel Embiid were involved in a skirmish shortly following the half.

Joel Embiid and Marcus Smart had very different perspectives Tuesday night on a third-quarter incident during the Celtics' season-opening win over the ...

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

Joel Embiid is one of the most dominant players in the league today, but how does he stack up against the most dominant big man ever in Shaquille O'Neal?

3 However, PER and Box Plus/Minus go to Embiid. O'Neal ... He was an athlete but still, I know scouting reports back when he was a young Shaq when they would just string him out on the perimeter because he still had a hard time guarding pick-and-rolls. O'Neal has had his fair share of constructive criticism for Embiid, imploring the 76ers center to play with a more physically imposing presence in the same way that a young Shaq did in his prime. I would put him on the perimeter all day long. The last four MVP awards were taken home by big men, with last year's race coming down to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. Shaquille O'Neal vs. I’m saying I would put Joel Embiid in that situation."

Sixers star Joel Embiid chose the coy approach when asked about hid dustup with Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart on Tuesday.

[still pretty miffed](https://nesn.com/2022/10/celtics-marcus-smart-sends-message-to-joel-embiid-following-altercation/) about the incident after the Celtics’ 126-117 win, understandably so considering he was the only one punished for what went down. After falling to the parquet floor, Smart lightly grabbed Embiid’s foot, which prompted the latter to ham up the theatrics with a pretty blatant flop. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year maintained his reach for the basketball after the Philadelphia big man pulled down a rebound, and Embiid’s rip-through caused Smart’s arm to awkwardly bend.

Marcus Smart was heated after getting tangled up with Joel Embiid in the Celtics' season opener. Here's what had Smart and teammate Jaylen Brown so upset ...

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

The Boston guard said Embiid tried to “break” his arm when the two were tangled up.

The two had to be separated, and Jaylen Brown got in the mix as well. While tangled up, it appeared that Embiid stepped back and knocked Smart down. [Westbrook Believes Move to Bench Led to Hamstring Injury](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/19/russell-westbrook-hamstring-injury-move-to-bench-preseason-starting-lineup-lakers-warriors?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story) [The Warriors Put NBA on Notice](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/19/warriors-stephen-curry-lakers-ring-night-win?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story) [NBA Beware: The Jayson Tatum Takeover Is Coming](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/19/jayson-tatum-boston-celtics-philadelphia-76ers-takeover-is-coming?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story) “That’s the maturity we had.” The play he is referring to came in the third quarter, when Embiid and Smart went for a rebound but Smart’s arm was caught in Embiid’s arm after the Philadelphia star secured the board. [Celtics](https://www.si.com/nba/team/boston-celtics) guard [Marcus Smart](https://www.si.com/nba/player/marcus-smart) and [76ers](https://www.si.com/nba/team/philadelphia-76ers) center [Joel Embiid](https://www.si.com/nba/player/joel-embiid) got in each other’s faces after getting tangled up on a play, and Smart did not mince words when talking about it postgame.

Sixers big man Joel Embiid admits he himself was surprised to end up in a dust-up with both Celtics stars Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown.

As for Smart, however, he was upset with the turn of events. “Went for a rebound. For those who missed it, Embiid got involved in a heated altercation with the two Celtics early in the third quarter of their season opener. Tempers flared up after that, with Jaylen Brown coming to the defense of Smart. Next thing, Jaylen was on top of me and I don’t know. “They had called a foul and I walked away, next thing I know, my foot is getting caught up, and I slipped.