Barkley Mocks Embiid Fight: I've Been Kissed Harder

Officials assessed Joel Embiid a technical foul after replay review confirmed he initiated a scuffle under the basket with Detroit Pistons forward Tolu Smith.

The incident happened with 1:25 left in the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

The Philadelphia 76ers led the Pistons by 10 points at the time.

76ers guard Jaylen Brown drove to the basket and drew a foul.

After the whistle, Embiid grabbed the ball and appeared to elbow Smith in the chest.

Smith responded by knocking the ball out of Embiid's hands.

A brief shoving match followed between the two big men.

Teammates and coaching staff from both teams rushed in to separate them.

Referees reviewed the play and determined Embiid had instigated the contact.

Embiid was assessed a technical foul for initiating the altercation.

Smith was not penalized beyond the initial play.

The scuffle was brief and did not escalate beyond shoving.

No players were ejected from the game.

During the halftime show on TNT's "Inside the NBA," the crew reacted to the footage.

Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal joked that someone should call the police.

O'Neal delivered the punchline, "Police presence," a reference to an iconic moment on the show.

Charles Barkley then fired off a quick-witted remark about the scuffle.

"I've been kissed harder," Barkley said.

Kenny Smith immediately seized the opening to rag on his colleague.

"Stop telling us about your love life," Smith replied.

Ernie Johnson echoed the sentiment, saying, "I don't think we even want details on that."

Barkley has made the same remark before, both when discussing physical defense in the modern NBA and when reacting to hard fouls and on-court altercations.

The Hall of Famer played in a much more physical era of basketball than today's game.

O'Neal and Smith also played in that era, which explains why the scuffle seemed underwhelming to them.

Earlier in the same game, Embiid was involved in another odd incident.

He faked a shot and it appeared his leg hit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham low as he passed the ball.

No foul was called on that play.

Embiid finished the game with 26 points on 8-of-18 shooting.

He also grabbed 15 rebounds in 33 minutes of play.

The 76ers won the contest 112-106.

The victory improved Philadelphia's record to 8-1, the most wins in the NBA.

Jaylen Brown led the 76ers with 30 points and seven rebounds.

Tyrese Maxey struggled from the field but still posted 19 points and seven assists.

LeBron James finished with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting.

James also recorded his 16,000th career field goal, becoming the first NBA player to reach that milestone.

Cade Cunningham scored 26 points in a losing effort for the Pistons.

The 76ers have won five straight games.

They next face the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The NBA rulebook defines a technical foul as a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct or contact with an opponent after a whistle.

Under NBA rules, initiating physical contact after a whistle — even if minor — can result in a technical foul.

Replay review is standard procedure when officials need to determine who started an altercation.

The league's officiating department reviews such incidents both during the game and, in some cases, after the game for potential fines or suspensions.

No fines or suspensions have been reported in connection with this incident.

Embiid is a former NBA Most Valuable Player, winning the award in 2023.

He has been known for his physical style of play throughout his career.

Smith is a backup big man for the Pistons, averaging limited minutes this season.

The scuffle has sparked debate among fans and analysts about whether the technical foul was warranted.

Some argue that Embiid's post-whistle elbow was a clear violation that deserved a technical.