PHILADELPHIA _ The NBA suspended 76ers center Joel Embiid and Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns two games each for their roles in a fight during the Sixers' 117-95 win Wednesday over the Timberwolves.
The suspensions will begin Saturday for both players. The Sixers begin a four-game road trip Saturday in Portland, while Minnesota will visit Washington.
Embiid will also miss Monday's game in Phoenix.
A league source said that under the CBA, there is no appeals process for suspensions of this nature.
Al Horford will move from power forward to center in place of Embiid.
That happened in the second game of the season, when Embiid was sidelined with a right ankle sprain. The Sixers won at Detroit, 117-111.
Rookie Matisse Thybulle moved into the starting lineup for that game. It's uncertain how coach Brett Brown will address the situation against Portland.
The Sixers didn't release a statement, but a team spokesperson said, "The team was notified of the suspension (Thursday) evening following the conclusion of the league's investigation. We are moving forward understanding Joel Embiid will not be available for the next two games."
On Thursday, Sixers point guard Ben Simmons found himself in the middle of the controversy.
After the game Wednesday, NBA referee Mark Ayotte, through a pool reporter, was asked if Simmons was trying to break up the fight when he had Towns on the ground.
"Yes, we deemed him a peacemaker," Ayotte responded.
An ESPN report Thursday said that the Timberwolves contended to the NBA that it was a "dangerous choke hold" by Simmons.
The Wolves would neither confirm nor deny the report.
The NBA didn't fine Simmons for his role.
As for Simmons, he scoffed at Minnesota's contention.
"I don't really have anything to say about it," Simmons said after practice. "My teammate and Karl went at it and I tried to grab them and separate them and get Karl to relax a little bit because I know Karl. People who know me, know I am not (like that), that is how I play. It is what it is."
