Despite engaging in an on-court wrestling match that resulted in them both receiving two-game suspensions, there is nothing personal at the heart of the beef between star big men Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The league doled out the penalties Thursday after the pair got tangled up and were ejected for their scuffle during the third quarter of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 117-95 home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Up 75-55, the 76ers Embiid shoved Towns, who replied with a punch that sailed wide as they wrestled to the floor.
Charania reported Friday that the animosity between the two was sparked by Embiid’s well-documented, trash-talking personality.
The pair also traded barbs on social media following the incident.
During the scrum that ensued after the Towns-Embiid altercation, the 76ers’ Ben Simmons jumped in and held down Towns.
The league opted not to discipline Embiid’s co-star, ruling that Simmons did not technically have Towns in a chokehold and he was actually attempting to play “peacemaker.”
“(Simmons) was trying to separate everyone and told KAT in his ear to just cool off,” a league source told Charania.
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