Another day, another officiating controversy in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
First, it was Draymond Green’s ejection for stomping on Domantas Sabonis and the kerfuffles that followed. Then, during Thursday night’s Game 3 between the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, Joel Embiid slammed Nic Claxton with a dangerous kick but wasn’t ejected.
You know who was ejected? James Harden.
During the third quarter, Harden hit Royce O’Neale with a low blow that stunned the Nets’ defender. Harden received a Flagrant 2 for the play and was ejected, a stunning turn of events considering what the officials deemed legal on Thursday night. Here’s what Harden was ejected for.
This got James Harden ejected. An absolute joke. pic.twitter.com/m8T4h61eil
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 21, 2023
A foul, to be sure, but to give Harden an ejection when Embiid received none certainly feels inconsistent, to say the least. Hilariously enough, later in the game, Claxton — who took the kick from Embiid — was ejected himself for taunting after dunking over the Sixers’ star player.
Nic Claxton EJECTED for taunting after dunk on Embiid 😳 pic.twitter.com/ejAP3ygpTq
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 21, 2023
Yeah, definitely not the ejections people thought would happen during Game 3. NBA fans were extremely frustrated at the inconsistency of officiating during Game 3 between the Sixers and Nets.
I get that this is a foul and an unfortunate spot. But it sure looks like Harden is just pushing off here. To boot him for that seems pretty harsh.
Embiid might have gotten away with one earlier, but still. https://t.co/3Z7rTsZtT9
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) April 21, 2023
They just threw James Harden out of the game. I don’t know what I’m watching anymore. #Sixers #NBA
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) April 21, 2023
Harden being tossed there is somehow even more ridiculous than Embiid not being tossed earlier in the game
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) April 21, 2023
James Harden has been ejected for this, but Embiid wasn’t earlier.
There is 0 consistency across anything in the NBA right now. Officials are just guessing calls.
pic.twitter.com/p9vg9MvFAQ— Guru (@DrGuru_) April 21, 2023
Harden got tossed but Embiid didn’t fit this ? pic.twitter.com/NV15IF6r5H
— Jon (@jond2546) April 21, 2023
They eject Harden for THAT after the Embiid mishap in the first? I have no words.
— Brooke Destra (@TheBrookeDestra) April 21, 2023
Throwing Harden out but keeping Embiid makes no sense. The refs are so wildly inconsistent this playoffs.
— Swipa (@SwipaCam) April 21, 2023
Harden ejected for some reason. How is Embiid still in the game, but Harden now gone? Refs are out of their minds
— Tyrone Johnson (@TyJohnsonNews) April 21, 2023
So James Harden gets ejected for that, but Joel Embiid doesn’t get tossed for the kick earlier in the game?
Sounds like a makeup call to me.
— Chris Milholen (@CMilholenSB) April 21, 2023
