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James Harden calls Game 3 ejection vs. Nets ‘unacceptable’
James Harden calls Game 3 ejection vs. Nets 'unacceptable',Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden did not mince words when speaking with reporters about his Game 3 ejection.

James Harden calls Game 3 ejection vs. Nets ‘unacceptable’

In a nasty, hard-nosed Game 3 performance, the Philadelphia 76ers topped the Brooklyn Nets, 102-97, on Thursday, pulling to within a win of a four-game sweep. 

Down the stretch, the Sixers pulled out the victory without James Harden, who was ejected from the game for allegedly hitting Nets’ Royce O’Neale in the groin. After the Sixers’ victory, a befuddled Harden angrily called his first career ejection “unacceptable.” 

“I’m not labeled as a dirty player. I didn’t hit him in a private area,” Harden said via Rich Hofmann of The Athletic. “When someone’s draped on you defensively, it’s just a natural basketball reaction.”

Late in the third quarter, while driving to the basket, Harden collided with O’Neale, who immediately grabbed his nether region. After a review, officials assessed Harden with a Flagrant 2 foul — which comes with an automatic ejection. 

This got James Harden ejected. An absolute joke. pic.twitter.com/m8T4h61eil

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 21, 2023

“I didn’t even think it was a foul on me,” Harden said. “It wasn’t like no wind-up elbow. I didn’t hit him in the private area, none of that. It can’t happen.” 

In a game that featured more egregious acts that went unpunished, Harden might have a real case for a beef. 

Earlier in the contest, Joel Embiid kicked Nic Claxton near the groin after the Nets’ center had stepped over him in an alley-oop celebration. Embiid received a Flagrant 1 on that play, which allowed him to stay in the game. 

In the pool report interview, crew chief Tony Brothers clarified both incidents, saying Embiid’s acts “didn’t rise to the level of excessive,” while Harden’s seemingly did. 

“Based on the point of contact directly to the groin, it rose to the level of excessive and ejection,” Brothers told Brian Mahoney of the AP. 

With the 76ers one victory away from ending the series, Game 4 in Brooklyn should be another fun-filled affair. 

The Sixers and Nets will tip off Saturday at 1 p.m. EST., with Philly looking to move one step closer toward its endgame goal.