Game 6 of the series between the Hawks and the Sixers kept all its promises: tense, intense and suspenseful, it was logically accompanied by a few testosterone surges. Joel Embiid and John Collins were thus sanctioned.
It was hot, but Philadelphia’s season is still going strong. Winners of the Hawks in Atlanta (104-99), the Sixers had to go deep into their reserves to come out of a crazy game alive. Among the highlights of the evening, a power cut in money-time, a Ben Simmons benched late in the game because of a Hack-a-Shaq… and the friendly exchanges between Joel Embiid and John Collins.
It all started during the third quarter, when JC buried the Philly pivot on receiving a smashing alley-oop that sent the room into a frenzy. Look instead:
JOHN COLLINS DUNKS ALL OVER EMBIID ?
(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/qpSIn0l5dX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 19, 2021
Minutes later, Collins and Embiid found themselves on the other side of the floor, battling for a rebound. The Cameroonian then hit the Hawks player in the face as he went to the basket, before tempers flared on the ground and degenerated to the stands!
It’s heating up in Atlanta???? pic.twitter.com/4iwbVVlo8T
— Hoops On Fire (@HoopsOnFire_) June 19, 2021
Result: technical fault for the two main protagonists, but no ejection. Several replacement players for the Hawks have also left the bench to come in the middle of the fuss, which might be worth suspensions in the hours to come. Embiid’s offensive fault was also confirmed, despite the challenge from Doc Rivers.
The game then resumed, and it was indeed the Sixers who went to seek victory through experience. They therefore offer themselves a match 7 at home, to finally get out of the trap posed by a still sparkling Trae Young and his teammates.
It’s boiling between the two franchises, which each smell the smell of the conference final very close. The fight was narrowly avoided today, but will it be the same in Game 7?