The NBA has assessed Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid a Flagrant 1 foul for kicking Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham during Wednesday's 112-106 win, ClutchPoints' Kris Pursiainen reported on Thursday.
The incident occurred with 5:32 remaining in the first quarter. Cunningham was defending Embiid near the three-point line when the 32-year-old extended his right leg during an initial shooting attempt. Embiid subsequently passed the ball to LeBron James, but his kick struck Cunningham in the groin, leaving the 25-year-old bent over in pain.
No foul was called during the sequence. Cunningham was slow to recover as Embiid moved past him for a dunk and later continued grabbing the area where he was struck.
The incident was not Embiid's only disciplinary issue during the contest. He also received a technical foul after pushing Pistons forward Tolu Smith underneath the basket with 1:25 remaining in the first half, leading to a brief confrontation.
Both the technical and the retroactively assessed Flagrant 1 were Embiid's first infractions of their respective types this season. Under league regulations, a Flagrant 1 carries one point, and reaching six points during the regular season results in a one-game suspension. A player also faces ejection after receiving two Flagrant 1 fouls in the same game, while a Flagrant 2 results in an automatic ejection.
Despite the incident, Embiid finished with 26 points and a season-high 15 rebounds against Detroit. He is averaging 19.6 points and 10 rebounds through his first seven appearances this season.
Article Continues BelowThe victory improved Philadelphia's record to 8-1. Jaylen Brown led the 76ers with 30 points and seven rebounds, while Cunningham recorded 26 points and 11 assists for the Pistons.
The two teams will not face each other again until February.