The Boston Celtics earned a hard-fought 114-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night time in Sport 3 of their second spherical matchup to take a 2-1 collection lead. The win got here with one main battle scar, although. Halfway by way of the fourth quarter, NBA MVP Joel Embiid by accident stomped on the top of Celtics ahead Grant Williams throughout a battle for a free ball. One way or the other, Williams was okay, and was capable of joke about it after the sport.
Embiid misplaced his stability 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 capable of shake it off and keep within the sport. Watch the play right here:
That is after all not the primary stomp of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Draymond Inexperienced stomped on the chest of Domantas Sabonis through the first spherical collection between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings. Inexperienced was ejected and finally suspended, however the large distinction between the 2 stomps is that Inexperienced’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. “That is what we battle for.”
Williams spoke to reporters concerning the second after the sport:
“I used to be like, dang, I actually received curb stomped!” Williams informed The Athletic. “I received curb stomped slightly bit, nevertheless it wasn’t intentional. It’s the playoffs, so that you count on battles like this. You count on to bleed, you count on to be elbowed. It’s nothing new. So for me, it was similar to, get me again into the sport as quickly as doable.”
Jaylen Brown referred to as it the craziest factor he’s ever seen on a basketball court docket.
“Once I noticed Grant get his head stepped on by a 300-pound particular person, to see that dwell was loopy,” Brown mentioned. “Seeing that in actual time, it was in all probability the craziest factor I’ve seen on a basketball court docket.”
The Celtics managed Sport 3 all through the second half, and have now gained each video games Embiid has performed in throughout this collection. The Sixers earned a stunning Sport 1 with Embiid injured to start the collection. Embiid completed with 30 factors, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
Williams, in the meantime, has grow to be an vital piece for the Celtics after being out of the rotation earlier within the playoffs. Williams performed 29 minutes within the Sport 2 win, and 23 minutes within the Sport 3 win. He solely performed 4 minutes in Boston’s Sport 1 loss.
Philly has to get James Harden going. After a forty five level masterpiece in Sport 1, Harden shot 2-of-14 from the sphere in Sport 2, and 3-of-14 from the sphere in Sport 3.