Kyle Ratke: Jordan Bell on the Towns & Embiid incident from last week: “I think he did what he thought was necessary. Somebody was pushing so he pushed back. That’s the way my mom told me. Somebody hit you, you hit their a** back. I think my mom would be proud of what he did.”
NBA Rumor: Embiid-Towns Beef
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Jon Krawzcynski: KAT says he’s eager to move forward and not very interested in looking back at the scrap with Embiid. More focused on helping the Wolves bounce back from the loss last night.
So where did the animosity come from between Embiid and Towns? Embiid is this league’s most dominant big man, a prolific scorer and stifling rim protector who prides himself on winning the mental battle with his counterparts. Multiple sources told The Athletic that there actually isn’t anything personal between the two. As for the no-punches-held-back posts on social media out of Embiid, everyone understands: There’s no filter; just a pure trash-talk mentality.
Sirius XM NBA: Former Executive VP of Basketball Operations for the NBA Stu Jackson agrees with the league giving Joel Embiid & Karl-Anthony Towns two game suspensions for their roles in the fight on Wednesday night pic.twitter.com/huJCKVB4An
Chucky Anthony (Karl-Anthony Towns manager): When u find out u suspended for 2 games
The Minnesota Timberwolves are fuming over the NBA’s handling of discipline stemming from an altercation between Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid on Wednesday night. Towns and Embiid were each suspended for two games for their roles in the confrontation, which spilled over into the social media sphere after both were ejected from the game.
Finally, many in the organization were perplexed that Ben Simmons did not receive any discipline after climbing onto Towns’ back and wrapping his arm around his neck. The league determined Simmons was trying to calm the situation down, something the Wolves were not buying.
Michael Lee: I missed Jimmy Butler chiming in last night...
Michael Lee: Jimmy Butler on KAT-Embiid scrap: “I like it.”
Scott, the fan-favorite who infamously slugged it out with an Eagles fan who was talking “hella shit” last month outside Lincoln Financial Field, enjoyed what he saw. “Definitely entertaining. Let’s get all the bad things out. You don’t want to condone it. The kids are watching,” Scott said, “but I loved it. I thought it was great. That was great. He probably did a…nah, fuck that. That was great. I enjoyed that. When your superstar plays like that, he has that Philly toughness in him. We’ll see what the league does, but I was hype. I was turned up. I thought it was fun. “Some people don’t like it,” Scott said, “but, shit, we in Philly: 1-0, Jo.”
Tim Reynolds: Jimmy Butler to @KristenLedlow on Embiid-Towns: “I knew somehow someway I was going to get (dragged) into the clash of the titans. …As soon as I saw it, I was like ‘Here we go. My name’s getting thrown into it.’ And Jo is my guy. I knew he would be the one to throw me into it.”
Bobby Marks: The two-game suspension for Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns will cost each player a total of $379,374 (Embiid) and $376,345 (Towns). Each team will receive a 50% credit toward the luxury tax.
Serena Winters: Joel Embiid & Karl-Anthony Towns have both been suspended 2 games.
Embiid, Towns suspended for two games
Shams Charania: NBA suspensions from 76ers/Timberwolves scuffle, per sources: Joel Embiid, 2 games; Karl-Anthony Towns, 2 games. No fine for Ben Simmons.
Shams Charania: All parties viewed Simmons as a peacemaker in scuffle. Simmons was seen on top of Towns, calming him down with with his arms.
Marc Stein: Will be interesting to see how much the league office factors the post-altercation chatter into the looming Towns/Embiid suspensions. As opposed to a mere social media beef that the league would typically ignore, this one could well be interpreted as a continuation of the scuffle
Jeff Teague watches a lot of wrestling. He never misses an event from the WWE. He’s also an 11-year NBA veteran. It’s safe to say Teague has seen his share of fights. So how would rate the one between Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid on Wednesday? “That was weak,” Teague said. “That was a baby one.”
“As you can see tonight, he’s got a lot of fight in him,” Teague said. “Last year, I wouldn’t say he wouldn’t do that or he would’ve took it, but he’s here to make a statement. I think tonight it just showed a lot of heart. “I’m riding with him.” While Towns tried to downplay the fight after the game, his teammates took more from the incident than he might have said. “It was just our attitude, man,” Josh Okogie said. “We’re not going to be run over. We didn’t want the outcome we have. But we’re going to be tough.”
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: Sixers and Brand are communicating to the NBA that they believe KAT was the aggressor in the scuffle with Joel Embiid. Also, they’ve “doubled-down” on referee assessment that Simmons was peacemaker — and delivered that message to league office too.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sixers GM Elton Brand: “First and foremost, we obviously don’t condone the altercation that happened last night. As a former player, I have experienced situations like that in the past. I understand how our players reacted in the moment. I have their backs.”
As the NBA’s investigation into the altercation between Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns begins, the Minnesota Timberwolves are rejecting the game officials’ designation of Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons as a “peacemaker” in the fracas, league sources tell 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 choke hold,” league sources told ESPN. Simmons told reporters after the game that he’s “always got my teammate’s back.”
The NBA’s executive president of basketball operations, Kiki VanDeWeghe, was in contact with both the Sixers and Timberwolves front offices on Wednesday night, sources said. The NBA plans to review tape and interview participants and witnesses beginning Thursday. Both Embiid and Towns are facing the possibility of a suspension. Embiid and Towns became tangled in the third period of the Sixers’ 117-95 victory and wrestled each other to the floor before coaches and teammates separated them. Towns initially tossed a punch that didn’t land on Embiid, who later poked Towns in the eye with his thumb.
Chris Hine: A source said the league is hopeful to have a resolution in its review of the Towns-Embiid fight today, no later than tomorrow.
Bobby Marks: Here is the financial consequences for a likely Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns suspension: Per game Embiid- $189,687 Towns- $188,172
Joel Embiid: I’m done talking trash🏆🏆🏆👀
It started with a scuffle that left Embiid’s lip bloodied and Towns laying prone on the court with Ben Simmons on top of him applying a choke hold. The Timberwolves were on their way to another decisive defeat in Philadelphia, but this time Towns wasn’t going to be punked. “Good for KAT,” one Timberwolf texted from the locker room. “I’m happy he stood his ground.”
“Last year, I wouldn’t say he wouldn’t do that or he would’ve took it, but he’s here to make a statement,” said Jeff Teague, who joined the fray by plowing into Embiid to get him off of Towns. “I think tonight it just showed a lot of heart. I’m riding with him.”
Karl-Anthony Towns: I aIN’t nO BiTcH RaiSeD ARoUnD LiOnS ???????????? ???????????? #BitchTalk
Joel Embiid: That tough guy act ain’t cutting it …. you know what you are.. you know what you’ve always been>>> A PUSSY (SAY IT LOUDER FOR PEOPLE IN THE BACK) Been kicking your ass and pretty please make the playoffs before you talk. It’s a known thing that I OWN YOU. @KarlTowns
“I was built for this city,” Embiid told reporters. “The love they have for me, I can’t thank them enough. I appreciate all the love. That reaction was probably the loudest I ever heard them. That’s what the city of Philadelphia is all about. “You gotta come in here, you gotta fight, you gotta play hard, you gotta be gritty, you gotta be a Broad Street Bully. We’re gonna keep on fighting and try to accomplish the goal we have set for us.” “I like to get in people’s minds,” Embiid added.
“I always got my teammates back.” Ben Simmons caught up with @SerenaWinters to talk about the scuffle and having JoJo’s back. 😤
Dime: EMBIID VS. KAT!!!
March 27, 2023 | 4:16 am EDT Update
“I feel great,” Brown said. “I’m on a 50-win team right now that you can’t take for granted. Tonight was the 50th win. And right now I’m focused on helping to lead my team for another playoff run. In terms of speculation, et cetera, I can’t speculate on anything above what I’m doing right now. I think sometimes when people write articles they get taken out of context especially when writers have their own agendas or whatever. So for me personally, I’m thinking about clarifying some of the things that have been recently said. But other than that, I’m just focused on my team. I’m focused on playing basketball and winning games.”
Patrick Beverley: 'The Lakers, you know, I was a spoon and they used me as a fork'
Greg Beacham: Patrick Beverley, asked if Chicago is the perfect fit for him: “Yeah. If I’m a spoon, Billy (Donovan) is using me as a spoon. The Lakers, you know, I was a spoon and they used me as a fork.”
Beverley talked a lot leading up to the game, something he said Sunday “wasn’t talk.” “So, I can’t even say it was talk,” Beverley said. “Great timing. I’m pretty sure Charmin enjoyed it a lot. I missed the window, like two weeks to post it. I had to post it last minute after a loss, when we played Philly. It just happened to come out the L.A. weekend. So, that doesn’t affect the way I go about the game. I’m here to win games and win a lot of them, and I’m fortune we got a win today.”
Patrick Beverley: 'We're not construction workers... It's all about having fun'
After the game, in which he had 10 points and five assists, Beverley was calm and collected in explaining his “too small” routine directed at James. “I do it to everybody,” Beverley said. “I was just having fun, getting lost in the game. Just getting lost in the game, having fun, man. We’re not construction workers. We’re not guys that have to get up at 4 o’clock in the morning. We’re professional basketball players. It’s all about having fun. That’s what we tried to do tonight, well, what I tried to do tonight.”
“I was just playing basketball, trying to get lost in basketball,” Beverley said. “Yeah, it was fun, man. Tonight was fun. Obviously, it’s good to see some old teammates, old coaching staff. The opportunity coach Ham [and] Pelinka gave me when I was with the Lakers never goes unforgotten. Always grateful. Fortunate to get a win tonight.”
After the game, Beasley wished his 4-year-old son a happy birthday in a post to Instagram. But unfortunately, some Lakers fans left hurtful comments on the post about Beasley’s performance on the court. That led to Beasley calling out the negativity and asking for respect. “It’s my sons bday and I’m trying to enjoy that,” Beasley wrote in a comment that he pinned to his post. “obviously I want to be making shots my self. I’m harder on myself then [sic] anybody.. laker nation it’s only a matter of time. I put in toooo much work not too [sic]. I promise when the time to turn up comes, it will come. “Let’s focus on getting to playoffs,” Beasley continued. “Positively is the only way to move forward from here. Love y’all and just show some respect to me and my family .. including @montanayao”
