Joel Embiid downplays Marcus Smart skirmish, Sixers loss to Celtics

BOSTON — While Marcus Smart was accusing him of trying to break his arm, Philadelphia big man Joel Embiid spent his press conference downplaying the near fight between them early in the second half of the Celtics’ 126-117 win over the Sixers at TD Garden on Tuesday.

The two players got tangled up and Embiid had Smart’s arm braced awkwardly as he knocked him to the ground causing it to bend as he went down. From the floor an angry Smart reached out and grabbed Embiid’s foot, toppling the Sixers’ big man. Jaylen Brown confronted Embiid but teammates from both sides stepped in to prevent further escalation. Smart was called for a technical.

Embiid pleaded ignorance.

“Honestly I don’t know. They called a foul. I walked away and the next thing I know my foot is getting caught up,” Embiid said. “I slipped. Then, the next thing I know Jaylen was on top of me. It’s basketball. Emotions. First game of the season. Rivalry, Boston-Philly. Lot of intensity. It’s all good.”

Smart wasn’t ready to put it behind him yet, taking exception to the way Embiid grabbed and positioned his arm.

“I stop play, my arms still stuck in there and he tries to break it. And then I’m the only one to get a tech,” Smart said. “I could have cracked his head open but I didn’t.”

Embiid was eager to put the game behind him and focus on Thursday.

“I’m not worried about Boston,” he said. “We have 81 more games. We’ve got Milwaukee coming up.”

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