Knicks players sound off against Joel Embiid’s ‘dirty’ flagrant foul

“I mean, we’re just happy Mitch didn’t get a serious injury on that,” said Knicks F Josh Hart. “I’m all for tough fouls, tough playoff fouls, but that’s something that can put a guy out for a significant amount of time. So we’re lucky he didn’t get seriously hurt during that time.”

Robinson re-injured his surgically repaired ankle

Robinson would remain in the game following the play, however, he would later be ruled out at halftime with a left ankle sprain. Robinson was also seen leaving Wells Fargo Center in a walking boot after the game.

Embiid defends controversial first-quarter play

Embiid defended his actions by recalling a game against the Golden State Warriors on January 30th in which Embiid was involved in a collision with Warriors F Johnathan Kuminga, which caused a meniscus injury for Embiid that kept him out of action for two months.

“Obviously Mitchell Robinson jumping and trying to land, trying to make sure he doesn’t land on me because obviously we know the history that I have with Kuminga landing on my knee,” said Embiid. “So I kind of had some flashbacks, when he came down to it.”

Embiid also noted the game’s physical nature as a byproduct of the play. Embiid also said he “didn’t mean to hurt anybody.”

“It was unfortunate, but physical game. They want to bring the physicality. We can be physical too, and we are. So it goes both ways. I get bumped all over the place, and I just keep playing and I’m not going to take it. I gotta keep my mind and make sure that I don’t get outside myself. But yeah, I just gotta keep being myself, being aggressive and physical,” said Embiid.

The Knicks will look to bounce back from Game 3’s defeat in Game 4 on Sunday. With New York up 2-1 on the series, a big question that many will be wondering ahead of Game 4 is whether or not the Knicks will retaliate for Embiid’s actions, as the battles are sure to be chippy throughout the remainder of the series.