Embiid questions officiating as Knicks claim 3-0 series lead

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid criticized officiating after the New York Knicks seized a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series with a Game 3 victory on May 8, 2026, at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Embiid highlighted a free-throw disparity, with the Knicks attempting 32 and the 76ers 16. "I guess it’s good when New York wins," he said.

Embiid added: "Maybe (some potential fouls) was let go or not. They shot 32 free throws, we had 16. We’re not a team that shoots a lot of 3s. We attack, put the ball on the ground. I don’t know." He continued: "We’ve just got to have that mentality of just not fouling, I guess, and being smart enough to not put ourselves in a position where they’re going to take advantage of it." The 76ers had restricted ticket sales to the Philadelphia area and donated tickets to local first responders, but thousands of Knicks fans, including Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller and Spike Lee, attended.

In the fourth quarter, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges scored consecutive baskets to extend the Knicks' lead to 92-84, followed by a 3-pointer from Jalen Brunson during a 9-0 run that made it 95-86. Karl-Anthony Towns drove against Embiid in the second quarter.

The Knicks host Game 4 on Sunday in Philadelphia, where they can complete a sweep.