Play.
During the postgame exchange, Embiid tells KD to go home.
The 76ers defeated the Nets in a game that saw a jawing match between the two players. (0:45)
12:14 AM
Two weeks ago, Kevin Durant led a short-handed Brooklyn Nets team to a win over the Philadelphia 76ers and waved his opponents off the court.
After the 76ers beat the Nets, Embiid waved the rest of the Nets off the court.
That's the best team in the conference. "Obviously I respect him a lot, and he told us the same thing he told us last time, so I'm happy about that," he said.
I returned the favor.
The 76ers have won three in a row and four of their past five games, and they had the bragging rights this time around after another outstanding performance by Embiid. The big man had 34 points, seven rebound, an assist, three steals and a block in 32 minutes, while the second-year point guard Tyrese Maxey had 25 points, five 3-pointers and a block.
The game was decided by an and-1 basket by Embiid with 15.3 seconds left. After missing two weeks because he entered the NBA's health and safety protocols, KD returned to the court and took exception, and the two got technical fouls.
After those final 15 seconds, there was more verbal jousting, with the Philadelphia fans clustered around his team's bench as he walked off the court.
Trash talk between the two of them is not new, despite the way things appeared on the court, as both Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons were respectful of the other postgame.
"If you've been watching us play, it's been like that every game, even the All-Star Game," said Kevin, who had 33 points, six rebound and four assists in 38 minutes. "We respect each other so much that it's natural competitive fire that comes out." It's the name of the game and letting them know we're coming with the same energy.
I like the energy that they played with. You love competition and it will make you better.
He said that the only player in the league who might have more gifts on a basketball court than he does is KD.
"There's a lot of respect for him," said Embiid. I tell people that I can do everything on the basketball court, and there's not a lot of guys that can do that. I think he's more talented than me, and that's probably true.
I have a lot of respect for him. I like his game. We're competitive. It's always good to beat the best team in the conference if you win.
The teams have gone through a lot over the past few weeks. Brooklyn had three games postponed due to its roster being ravaged by COVID-19, and saw Irving return to the practice court for the first time since training camp.
The 76ers have been trying to get back to where they were at the start of the season, but they have not been able to because of the strain on Ben Simmons.
Adding to the difficulty for Philadelphia was the fact that coach Doc Rivers entered the health and safety protocols that morning, leaving veteran NBA assistant Dan Burke to take his place.
Burke had lost his previous two chances as an acting head coach while working for the Indiana Pacers. He was excited about how Philadelphia played after the game, even though he admitted before the game that those losses were stuck with him.
Burke said it was fun. I don't know if we say it enough, we have a lot of great character and big hearts. You have a chance every night at both ends if you have that.
The team has had a hellacious opening two months of the season, and now they have only three games over the next 12 days.
There is one silver lining to all of it, according to the player.
"We should be good now, because our whole team has had carbon," he said. We should be good the rest of the year because we got that part out the way.
