The NBA has launched an investigation into a physical altercation between Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid and a columnist in the locker room following the Sixers’ 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday night.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and several other reports, Embiid shoved Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes following a tense verbal exchange. Embiid was confronting Hayes about an Oct. 23 column in which Hayes mentioned Embiid’s 4-year-old son and brother, Arthur, who died in a car crash at age 13 in 2014. Embiid named his son Arthur after his late brother.

In the column (subscription required), Hayes’ mentioned Embiid’s family members while criticizing Embiid’s work ethic and conditioning. (Note: The line embedded below was deleted from Hayes’ column in later online versions).

Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career. He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, who tragically died in an automobile accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76er.

Well, in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work. Embiid has been great at just the opposite.

Here’s Charania’s reporting on what happened during the confrontation Saturday night:

“The next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you are going to see what I’m going to do to you and I’m going to have to … live with the consequences,” Embiid said to Hayes.

Embiid continued, with several instances of profanity. Hayes offered an apology, which Embiid did not want. “That’s not the f—ing first time,” Embiid said.

Embiid later said he doesn’t care what reporters say. “But you do,” Hayes answered.

Embiid appeared to raise his voice at that point and not long afterward pushed Hayes on the shoulder while the team’s public relations chief got between them.

An NBA spokesman said Saturday, “We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation.”

The 76ers are off to a 1-4 start to the regular season following Saturday’s loss. Embiid hasn’t played yet this season due to left knee management. On Tuesday, the NBA fined the 76ers $100,000 for public statements regarding Embiid’s health status. The NBA investigation found that the 76ers did not violate player participation policy with Embiid’s missed games but did violate the policy with public comments that did not properly reflect his health issues with his knee.

Staggered Start Times for Full Slate

Switching gears to other NBA news, the league has deployed a special staggered schedule for Monday’s slate of games, which will feature all 30 teams in action.

The first game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers starts at 4 p.m. Monday. Then every other team is in action with another game tipping off every 15 minutes for the rest of the night, ending with the San Antonio Spurs versus the LA Clippers at 7:30 p.m. The Portland Trail Blazers face the New Orleans Pelicans that day on the road at 6:30 p.m., marking the third meeting between the teams in 10 days.

Part of the appeal of the staggered start times is all the games don’t finish at the same time like they usually do, so viewers with NBA League Pass can bounce around from one crunch-time situation to the next.

No games are scheduled this Tuesday in observance of Election Day in the U.S.

Indy Injuries

After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Indiana Pacers are off to a rough 2-4 start to the regular season. Making matters worse, the team just lost its backup center Isaiah Jackson for the season.

Charania reported Saturday that Jackson sustained a torn right Achilles tendon. This news comes after reserve Pacers center James Wiseman sustained a season-ending Achilles tendon tear during the first week of the season. The injury woes make the Pacers incredibly thin at the center position.

Brutal Bucks Loss

Since Blazer’s Edge covered the Bucks struggles earlier this week, here’s a brief follow-up on how things are going in Milwaukee: still not good.

Despite Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo combining for 75 points on 54.9% shooting, the Bucks lost a heartbreaker Saturday night to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 114-113. Cavs star Donovan Mitchell won it right before the horn with this difficult jumper from the midrange:

The game slid the Bucks to 1-5 on the year. Meanwhile, watch out for the Cavs at 7-0, the only other undefeated team besides the Thunder.