The Boston Celtics earned a hard-fought 114-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night time in Game 3 of their second spherical matchup to take a 2-1 sequence lead. The win got here with one main battle scar, although. Midway by way of the fourth quarter, NBA MVP Joel Embiid unintentionally stomped on the top of Celtics ahead Grant Williams throughout a battle for a free ball. Somehow, Williams was okay, and was in a position to joke about it after the sport.
Embiid misplaced his steadiness as Williams and teammate Jaylen Brown drove for a free ball. Embiid’s foot landed proper on Williams’ head. That needed to harm: Embiid is conservatively listed at 7-foot, 280 kilos. It’s a miracle that Williams was in a position to shake it off and keep within the sport. Watch the play right here:
This is in fact not the primary stomp of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Draymond Green stomped on the chest of Domantas Sabonis through the first spherical sequence between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings. Green was ejected and ultimately suspended, however the huge distinction between the 2 stomps is that Green’s was deemed intentional by the league. Embiid remained within the sport and won’t face self-discipline from the league.
Embiid apologized to Williams after the play. “It’s the playoffs, brother,” Williams mentioned as Embiid defined how he fell. “This is what we battle for.”
Williams spoke to reporters concerning the second after the sport:
“I was like, dang, I really got curb stomped!” Williams advised The Athletic. “I got curb stomped a little bit, but it wasn’t intentional. It’s the playoffs, so you expect battles like this. You expect to bleed, you expect to be elbowed. It’s nothing new. So for me, it was just like, get me back into the game as soon as possible.”
Jaylen Brown known as it the craziest factor he’s ever seen on a basketball courtroom.
“When I saw Grant get his head stepped on by a 300-pound individual, to see that live was crazy,” Brown mentioned. “Seeing that in real time, it was probably the craziest thing I’ve seen on a basketball court.”
The Celtics managed Game 3 all through the second half, and have now received each video games Embiid has performed in throughout this sequence. The Sixers earned a surprising Game 1 with Embiid injured to start the sequence. Embiid completed with 30 factors, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
Williams, in the meantime, has change into an necessary piece for the Celtics after being out of the rotation earlier within the playoffs. Williams performed 29 minutes within the Game 2 win, and 23 minutes within the Game 3 win. He solely performed 4 minutes in Boston’s Game 1 loss.
Philly has to get James Harden going. After a forty five level masterpiece in Game 1, Harden shot 2-of-14 from the sector in Game 2, and 3-of-14 from the sector in Game 3.