Lakers' Carmelo Anthony says 76ers fans were using 'unacceptable language'

Los Angeles Lakers' Carmelo Anthony, top center, is held back by officials after having a word with a fan in the stands during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in Philadelphia. (Chris Szagola/AP)

Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony got into an exchange with some Philadelphia 76ers' fans during a 105–87 loss Thursday night after he says one fan called him 'boy', ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports.

At the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter, things got tense when Anthony confronted the fan. The game was paused, and Sixers centre Joel Embiid stood beside Anthony while security swarmed to the location of the confrontation.

When the dust cleared, two fans were ejected.

“Unacceptable language and unacceptable behavior by fans, is the simplest way to put it," Lakers head coach Frank Vogel told reporters after the game. "There’s gotta be a higher standard and hopefully that’s handled the right way."

“It is what it is,” Anthony said of the incident after the game. “Some things was said. Unacceptable. I'm cool with fans heckling, fans talking trash, cheering for their team, booing the other team. I'm all for that. But when you cross certain lines, as a man, that's what you're going to see. That's what you're going to get, as you saw."

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