Joel Embiid’s second game after his sinus rupture didn’t go well.

Just before halftime of Monday night’s 111-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs, Embiid erupted and cursed at an official. At one point, things got so bad that it took several 76ers teammates and assistant coaches to restrain him before he left the field.

Shortly before halftime at the Wells Fargo Center, Embiid drove straight at Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and collided uncontrollably with him at the free throw line. Wembanyama made the accusation and Embiid was furious.

He jumped up and immediately started yelling at the referee, earning him his first technical foul. That didn’t slow him down and he quickly picked up the second technique and automatic ejection. Several people had to restrain Embiid even after his second technical foul as he continued to curse at the referee who ejected him.

Embiid was eventually sent off. He finished the game with nine points and three rebounds in 14 minutes, shooting 2 of 8 from the field. The ejection was only the second of his career.

Team manager Curtis Blair said after the game that while there was “accidental contact” between Embiid and the official, it was two “unsportsmanlike technical fouls” that led to his ejection. The contact between them was “only of a coincidental nature”.

The play marked the second loss for Embiid, who returned from a sinus fracture in Friday’s win over the Charlotte Hornets. The 30-year-old has only played eight games this season and only made his debut in mid-November after suffering a left knee injury and a three-game suspension for pushing a local reporter.

Wembanyama and Andre Drummond also briefly got involved in the second quarter, and Drummond was assessed a technical foul after pushing Wembanyama. He was nearly ejected, but a second technical foul was overturned after a review.

That incident, Blair said, occurred shortly after Drummond stepped on Wembanyama’s foot. This was also considered accidental contact.

The 76ers took a three-point lead at halftime after the Embiid incident and then went on a 9-3 score for a five-point win.

Tyrese Maxey had a near triple-double to lead the 76ers to victory, who are now 10-17 on the season. He finished the game with 32 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, shooting 12 of 25 from the field. Paul George added 19 points and nine rebounds, and Guerschon Yabusele scored 17 points as a substitute.

Wembanyama led the Spurs with 26 points and nine rebounds in the loss. He also had eight blocks, including seven in the first half. Stephon Castle added 17 points off the bench and Jeremy Sochan finished the game with 15 points and eight rebounds. The Spurs are 15-14 this season and have won four of their last six.

The 76ers will be back in action on Christmas Day when they take on the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.