The NBA world was expecting a normal trade deadline with no surprises this season. However, they were left in shock when James Harden was traded away to the Sixers for Ben Simmons. With the two teams meeting for the first time since, things are getting heated between the two superstars, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid. But, the referee has let them do their thing, and LeBron James is loving it.

Durant and Embiid are both front runners for the MVP race. They both are having memorable years. Embiid is dominating the league with 29.7 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists. Simultaneously, Kevin Durant had also gone about his business with 29.1 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Another common attribute they share is their competitiveness, and it is visible in this must-see match-up.

Going against each other for the second time, things haven’t changed as they both talked trash back and forth. And the referees let the stars heat things up.

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Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid go at it

After drawing a foul against Durant, Embiid made his way to the free-throw line. This is when a confident Durant brought out his cocky side. He started talking right at Embiid, getting into his face. However, just like the first time, Embiid did not back down. And LeBron James took notice of their exchange and loved the spirit the referees showed.

The King sent out a tweet complimenting the referees for letting the stars talk trash and build up the atmosphere in Philly. While the Sixers duo has run hot mostly, it has been all Brooklyn in this thriller so far.

Coming off a 50 point game, Kyrie Irving hasn’t lost his golden touch. He is torching the Sixers with 16 points and 2 assists in the first half. Kevin Durant is pulling out his best, putting up 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. newcomer Seth Curry is showing off his deadly shooting scoring 15 points on 6-9 from the field.

Playing against his former team, the Beard is struggling to bust out his game. He has added 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists on 3-15 shooting. While Embiid has a game-high 21 points, he has scored 15 points from the free-throw spot. The Nets’ defensive unit has done well to stop the superstar duo while also holding down a young Tyrese Maxey. With a dominating first half by the Nets, the game is set up for a great second half.

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With the animosity riding in the building, do you think Kevin Durant will have the last laugh at the end of the night? Let us know in the comments below.