Credit: X
When the Philadelphia 76ers center, Joel Embiid, got the and-1 at the Wells Fargo Center during the Friday night game against the Orlando Magic, the referee appeared to be disappointed after he initially perceived it to be going out, changing his call eventually. The clip of the referee went viral on the social media platform X, bringing about a plethora of fan reactions.
After the Philadelphia 76ers took a 13-point lead in the first quarter, the Orlando Magic had a much improved second half, cutting the deficit down to seven points, with the scoreline reading 68-61 in favor of the hosts, going into the half-time break. Although Joel Embiid suffered a left knee injury at the close of the first half, he magically appeared on the court in the second half to lead the 76ers’ charge.
The third quarter began with a 3-pointer for Joel Embiid, who ended the night with 32 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, playing a key role in establishing the 13-point lead for the Philadelphia 76ers over the Orlando Magic. Despite a better fourth and final quarter for the Magic, they ultimately lost to the 76ers by 125-113.
During this pulsating game, the referee wasn’t sure about whether Joel Embiid will get the and-1, so he made a hasty call, which had to be changed after the play did happen.
Here are some of the fan reactions to referee’s disappointment at Joel Embiid’s and-1:
Moreover, with their seventh straight win, the Philadelphia 76ers moved into tied 6th place in the Eastern Conference standings with the Orlando Magic and the Indiana Pacers, with only one round of NBA regular season games remaining.
