Charles Barkley wasn’t impressed with heated 76ers-Pistons scuffle: ‘Been kissed harder’

Charles Barkley dismissed a brief scuffle between Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid and Detroit Pistons player Tolu Smith III, joking that he had “been kissed harder”. The exchange drew laughs from the “Inside the NBA” panel and reflected how the former players viewed the minor pushing as tame compared with the more physical basketball of their era.

The incident came with 1 minute 25 seconds left in the first half, after Smith knocked the ball from Embiid’s hands while the players contested position; teammates and coaches intervened, and Embiid received a technical foul for starting the altercation. Philadelphia won 112-106 to improve to 8-1, led by Embiid’s 26 points and 15 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown scored 30.