Cameras catch Joel Embiid looking at cell phone on bench during 76ers' Game 1 loss

As the Philadelphia 76ers were on their way to a loss in their playoff opener against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday afternoon, the ESPN broadcast captured Sixers star Joel Embiid and teammate Amir Johnson looking at a cell phone — a violation of NBA rules.

Embiid immediately caught flak on social media, but he provided the following explanation after the game.

"Obviously, I wasn't on my phone," he told reporters. "I just looked down because he said that his daughter was extremely sick, and he was checking on her. So, I don't know. I just looked, but he was checking on his daughter. She's sick."

The Sixers fell 111-102, and the home crowd let them hear it with boos throughout much of the loss.

"I love the fans, and I've never said anything about them," Embiid said. "They all show us a lot of love. I mean, (the boos are) understandable. They come in, they pay a lot of money. They want a game to be entertaining. They want to watch us win. So I understand why they boo."

Embiid, who almost didn't play due to knee soreness, finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and four assists, but shot just 5-15 from the field. 

The 76ers announced later Saturday that Johnson was fined for conduct detrimental to the team.

"I apologize for having my phone on the bench in today's game," Johnson said in the team's statement. 

"I take full responsibility and will accept the consequences of my actions. I also apologize to my teammates, the 76ers organization and the fans for the distraction this has caused."