NBA officials blasted after James Harden ejection

Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden was ejected in the third quarter of Game 3 of Philadelphia’s playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets.

Harden was being guarded by Brooklyn’s Royce O’Neale and gained separation, but a whistle was quickly blown. Harden was given an offensive foul, which immediately went under review.

Upon further review, it was determined that Harden had hit O’Neale in the groin. With that, he was given a Flagrant 2 and was ejected from the game.

Earlier in the game, Philadelphia star Joel Embiid avoided an ejection after a kick near the groin of Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton.

Officiating has long been a controversy in the NBA, particularly in the playoffs.

Knowing that, it was no surprise to see basketball fans flock to Twitter in the moments following Harden’s debatable ejection.

Interestingly, Harden’s ejection was not the last of the night in Brooklyn. Shortly after Harden was ejected, Claxton was given a technical foul for taunting. As it was his second technical of the game, he was ejected.

Throughout the history of the NBA, a handful of playoff games are remembered not for what any of the players or teams did, but because of how they were officiated. There’s a good chance that Thursday’s game between the 76ers and Nets might fall into that category.