Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid brawled in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, and melee has reportedly earned each star center a two-game suspension. Ben Simmons, who made Karl-Anthony Towns tap out on the floor as he tried to break up the fight, didn’t receive a suspension or fine for his role in the chaos.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday that the Timberwolves complained to the league about Ben Simmons’ conduct. Simmons was not ejected or given a foul during the game, and remained on the floor to help the Sixers win.
Via ESPN:
“Referee Mark Ayotte told a pool reporter Wednesday night that Simmons was ‘deemed a peacemaker’ for an act that included him holding Towns to the floor in what the Timberwolves contend was a ‘dangerous chokehold,’ league sources said.”
Later on Thursday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that both Embiid and Towns have received two-game suspensions for their roles in the fight. Fortunately for the Sixers, Simmons avoided any kind of punishment.
Simmons may have just earned himself a nickname.
