NBA legends Charles Barkley and Shaq rip 76ers star Joel Embiid for kicking Nets player

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The Philadelphia 76ers have a 3-0 lead over the Nets in the first round of the NBA's Eastern Conference playoff series. But much of the conversation following the Sixers' 102-97 victory in Game 3 has revolved around star Joel Embiid.

Following a dunk by Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton early in the first quarter, Embiid fell to the court. As Claxton stepped over him, Embiid then lashed out with a retaliatory kick. 

After a video review, the referees determined that Embiid committed a flagrant foul 1. A flagrant foul 2 would have resulted in an ejection.

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Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in New York City on Thursday. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Later in the game, Philadelphia guard James Harden was thrown out of the game after he swung his arm whille dribbling and made contact with Nets forward Royce O’Neale's groin.

Officials reviewed the play and called Harden for a flagrant foul 2.

"Based on the point of contact directly to the groin, it rose to the level of excessive and ejection," crew chief Tony Brothers said.

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Some believe that Embiid should have suffered the same fate as his teammate Harden did in Game 3. Hall of Famers Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley are among those that feel Embiid's actions warranted an ejection. 

During Thursday's broadcast of TNT's "Inside the NBA," O'Neal and Barkley compared Embiid's kick to Golden State Warrior star Draymond Green's stomp on the