James Harden throws ball at Joel Embiid for a shoulder shove; gets a technical to his dibelief

Joel Embiid was his naughty self tonight, when he fouled James Harden with a non-basketball play and just as everyone thought he would be called out for a foul, Harden got a technical. 

In what has to be the weirdest sequence in the Bubble, James Harden got a technical foul after Joel Embiid fouled him with a non-basketball play.

It all began when Embiid turned on Harden, trying to get a bucket for himself and was stripped off the ball. Harden did get some contact on Embiid, but also got the ball and no foul was called.

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In response, Embiid quickly ran towards Harden and shoved him away with his shoulder. As soon as he did that, the commentators and everyone watching felt Embiid would get another personal foul against him. However, cut to the next frame and the Sixers big man was seen taking free throws.

Why was James Harden given a technical?

While Joel Embiid fouled Harden first, the Rockets man got a technical as he had thrown the ball at Embiid after being fouled.

Now, even if that was a foul on part of Harden, shouldn’t Embiid have been penalised first for the non-basketball shoulder shove he pulled on the MVP candidate?

The call absolutely baffled Doris Burke on air too, as she couldn’t understand how Embiid got away with getting two free throws despite fouling Harden first.

As one can see from the video, Harden walked away after being fouled, as he felt maybe he was heading to the line to shoot some free throws. He was flustered when he saw Embiid move towards the free throw line and shoot some himself instead.

Twitter couldn’t believe the sequence either and expressed their disbelief over the call