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Joel Embiid has expressed his suspicion over the officiating in the Philadelphia 76ers’ recent playoff defeat.
Following a 108-94 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the second-round series, the star center remarked, “I guess it’s good when New York wins,” after observing that the Knicks were awarded double the number of free throw attempts compared to the 76ers.
The game, noted for its physicality, saw the Knicks achieve a season-high with 32 free throw attempts, while Philadelphia recorded a season-low with just 16 attempts.
Embiid commented on the disparity, saying, “Maybe some potential fouls were overlooked. They had 32 free throws, and we only got 16. We’re not a team that relies heavily on three-pointers. We attack, we drive. I don’t know what happened.”
He continued, “I guess it’s beneficial when New York comes out on top, so we need to focus on playing smarter, avoiding fouls, and not letting them capitalize on those opportunities.”
The 76ers find themselves in a 3-0 hole and Embiid’s frustrations seemingly are boiling over after Philadelphia missed a chance to make this a series Friday night.
Philadelphia attempted more free throws in the first two games — 62 to 42, including a 34-17 edge in Game 1 — but did not receive the same advantage in what could have been billed a must-win.
The Knicks’ high free throw attempt total was boosted by Mitchell Robinson’s eight attempts with the 76ers employing the Hack-a-Mitch strategy, but even if one were to exclude those from the Knicks’ total, they still would have finished with 50 percent more tries than Philadelphia.
Jalen Brunson, who has attempted at least eight free throws in all three games and 25 total, had more than half of Philadelphia’s total with his nine attempts.
Emibiid, who had attempted at least seven free throws in each of his five postseason games entering Friday, only had four tries in his 18-point, six-rebound performance.
Both Embiid and Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns — who played just 26 minutes due to five fouls — showed frustration with the whistle during the game.
Early in the first quarter, both Embiid and Towns fell to the ground while fighting for a rebound and Embiid could not believe the referees did not call a foul on the Knicks’ big man.
He then fouled Towns on the other end and demonstratively yelled at the referees.
Embiid was also surprised after being called for a moving screen in the second quarter while Landry Shamet ran through him with the Knicks ahead by 11.
One particular play that enraged the 76ers — and particularly their fans — came late in the third quarter a critical juncture.
After Philadelphia sliced the deficit to 80-76 with less than 50 seconds remaining, the referees called Quentin Grimes for a questionable foul on Brunson, who embellished the contact.
Brunson hit two free throws to push the lead to six, the 76ers missed two 3s on the other end and Landry Shamet then drilled a 3 to give the Knicks an 85-76 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The cruel reality for the 76ers is that even if one subtracts the extra free throw makes (10) from the final score, the 76ers still would have fell short Friday.
And now they are one loss away from being eliminated by the Knicks for the second time in three years.
“Tough loss tonight,” Embiid said. “Got to take it one game at a time.”