Embiid: 'I shouldn't be suspended' for brawl with Towns

Warning: Image contains coarse language

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns started a brawl during Wednesday's game that eventually led to both players being ejected.

Embiid and Towns tried to wrestle each other to the ground, causing the benches to clear as coaches and players scrambled to break the two up.

"I didn't throw any punches, so I shouldn't be suspended," Embiid said, according to Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times.

Sixers guard Ben Simmons was among those involved in the scrum and appeared to have his forearm wrapped around Towns' throat as he pinned him to the ground.

However, NBA crew chief Mark Ayotte deemed Simmons to be playing a "peacemaker" role.

Embiid and Towns have a history of talking trash to each other on social media, but the Sixers big man insists no prior engagement led to their altercation.

"First of all, I ain't no b----," Embiid told reporters postgame. "It kind of happened out of nowhere. I just did what I had to do. I was just trying to control myself."

Towns has been the target of Embiid's jokes in the past. After a victory over Minnesota in December 2017, the Cameroonian dedicated an Instagram post to Towns after a dominant 28-point, 12-rebound performance.

The two once again went at it on Instagram after the game, with Towns poking fun at Embiid by posting an image of his emotional exit from Game 7 of last season's Eastern Conference Semifinals.

"I like to get in people's minds," Embiid said. "I like to kind of build that real estate, but it's the game. We're just having fun and playing basketball. Something like that is nothing. (You) just move on."