Eric Bledsoe ejected after clashing with Joel Embiid during Milwaukee Bucks win over Philadelphia 76ers
Friday 5 April 2019 13:25, UK
Eric Bledsoe was ejected less than three minutes into the Milwaukee Bucks' victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night following a clash with Joel Embiid.
Playoff intensity showed itself from the opening tip in Philadelphia as Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 45 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Bucks' 128-122 comeback victory that clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference.
The Bucks' win was made all the more impressive by the way they coped with the early loss of their starting point guard.
Bledsoe was battling for rebounding position with Embiid, and having felt as though he had been man-handled by the Sixers center, shoved him with an elbow to the back.
Embiid responded by throwing the ball - at relatively tame speed - towards Bledsoe, who then hurled the ball back with interest, striking Embiid in the stomach.
The duo's team-mates and the referees intervened to ensure the spat went no further, but the damage had been done for Bledsoe, who was given a technical each for the push and throw of the ball, and was ejected.
With the Bucks having secured the top seeding in the East and the Sixers set for third, the pair would not meet until the Conference Finals, but it promises to be a fierce contest if they both make it that far.
Click the video at the top of the page to watch Bledsoe's clash with Embiid.
