Joel Embiid draws technical foul after altercation with Tolu Smith

Joel Embiid scored 26 points but also drew a technical foul after a brief shoving match with Detroit Pistons forward Tolu Smith, and the Philadelphia 76ers still defeated the Pistons 112-106 on Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena, USA Today reported.

The incident came with 1:25 left in the second quarter while 76ers forward Jaylen Brown drove to the basket. Smith and Embiid jostled for position below the rim, and after the play was blown dead, Smith swatted the ball out of Embiid’s hands, Yardbarker reported. Embiid answered with an elbow to Smith’s chest, sparking a back-and-forth of light shoving before players and staff separated the two, Yahoo Sports reported. Smith initially shoved Embiid before both were shouting and trying to square off. Officials reviewed the sequence and levied a technical foul only on Embiid for initiating the contact with the elbow, USA Today reported. The technical was Embiid’s first of the season.

Pistons Crowd Boos Embiid as Cunningham Converts Technical Free Throw

The Little Caesars Arena crowd immediately booed Embiid, and Fadeaway World reported that chants echoed through the arena while Embiid stood and encouraged the reaction. The chants included “Fuck Embiid,” and Embiid egged the crowd on, asking for more. Pistons guard Cade Cunningham made the resulting technical free throw, and Philadelphia led 56-42 at halftime, Yahoo Sports reported.

Embiid finished with a double-double of 26 points and 15 rebounds, shooting 8-of-18 from the field and 10-of-10 from the free-throw line, Yahoo Sports reported. Brown led the 76ers with 30 points and seven assists. LeBron James added 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. For Detroit, Duncan Robinson scored 27 points after going 7-of-11 from the 3-point line, Cunningham added 26 points and 11 assists, and Ausar Thompson grabbed 17 rebounds, Yahoo Sports reported.

76ers Improve to 8-1, Pistons Fall to 6-2

The win moved Philadelphia to 8-1 on the season, Yahoo Sports reported. The Pistons, who handed the 76ers their lone loss of the season on Oct. 25, fell to 6-2. Though Philadelphia led by as many as 13 in the final minutes, Detroit cut the lead to four after Cunningham hit a layup with 65 seconds left. The two teams are scheduled to end their three-game season series on Feb. 5, Yahoo Sports reported.

Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley Mock the Dustup on Inside the NBA

The altercation drew ridicule from NBA legends during the TNT broadcast. “Oh, call the cops. Police presence,” Shaquille O’Neal joked, and Charles Barkley reacted, “I’ve been kissed harder,” Fadeaway World reported. Players’ reactions to the incident after the game are still unclear, according to Fadeaway World.

Questions About the Embiid-Smith Altercation

Did Tolu Smith receive a technical foul too? No. Officials reviewed the sequence and assessed only Embiid a technical foul for initiating the action with the elbow, USA Today reported.

How did Embiid play in the first half? Embiid went into halftime with 13 points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes, shooting 3-of-8 from the field, Fadeaway World reported.

When do the 76ers and Pistons play again? The teams will end their three-game season series on Feb. 5.