James Harden sounded off on officiating after getting ejected from Game 3 in Brooklyn

While everyone continues to overreact regarding the incident between Joel Embiid and Nic Claxton last night, the craziest part of the Philadelphia 76ers Game 3 win over the Brooklyn Nets was James Harden getting a Flagrant 2 late in the third quarter, which resulted in him being ejected. 

James Harden, Flagrant 2 and Ejection

After everything that unfolded in Game 3 last night, the fact that Harden was ejected for THAT play is ridiculous. Following the game, Harden spoke with the media and sounded off on the officiating.

James Harden: Ejection was “Unacceptable“

James Harden on the Flagrant 2: “Unacceptable, that can’t happen.” pic.twitter.com/1ZxfOWCLpY

— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) April 21, 2023

“Unacceptable…Unacceptable Flagrant 2. That’s the first time I’ve been ejected. I’m not labeled as a dirty player. I didn’t hit him in the private area. If somebody is draped on you defensively, it’s just a natural basketball reaction.”

“I didn’t hit him hard enough for him to fall down like that for a flagrant-2 is unacceptable,” Harden continued. “This is a playoff game. We’ve seen things around the league that are much worse than that play was. Honestly, I didn’t even think that was a foul on me, but yeah. That can’t happen.”

“I didn’t even think it was a foul on me!” he said. “Natural reaction, you use your off arm to get him off a little bit and that was it. It wasn’t like no wind up, elbow, none of that. I didn’t hit him in the private area, none of that. That can’t happen. It can’t happen.”

Joel Embiid’s reaction to Harden getting ejected

Harden’s night ended with 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while the Sixers had to rally from a five-point deficit in the fourth quarter to walk away with a 102-97 win in Game 3. 

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