Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown said Joel Embiid used flopping to earn extra calls during the Celtics' Game 7 loss to Philadelphia [1].

The comments highlight the friction between the two teams and the impact of officiating on high-stakes postseason outcomes. Brown's criticism suggests that the 76ers' victory was aided by refereeing decisions rather than purely tactical superiority.

The game took place Saturday night, May 26, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston [1]. The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics with a final score of 109-100 [2]. The victory marked the first Game 7 win of Embiid's career [3].

Brown expressed frustration regarding the Celtics' inability to contain the 76ers center during the first-round NBA playoff matchup. He said the team struggled to find a defensive strategy that worked against Embiid while the center continued to receive favorable whistles [2].

"He was flopping around and got some extra calls," Brown said [1].

Brown linked the officiating directly to the result of the game and the frustration of the Boston roster. He said the lack of an answer for Embiid was exacerbated by the way the referees managed the contest [2].

"We didn't have an answer for him. He was getting those calls and it was frustrating," Brown said [2].

The Celtics were unable to recover from the deficit in the deciding game of the series. Brown continued his critique of the officials' role in the defeat [3].

"Embidd was flopping and the refs were rewarding him, which is why we lost," Brown said [3].

“"He was flopping around and got some extra calls."”

This exchange underscores the recurring tension in the NBA regarding 'flopping' and its influence on game results. By attributing the loss to officiating rather than just performance, Brown highlights a perceived systemic issue where star players can manipulate referees to gain a competitive edge in elimination games.