The incident occurred during Philadelphia’s 109-108 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday when Embiid, 31, scored while getting fouled and then made a chopping gesture to his groin.

Embiid has been fined for the gesture on multiple previous occasions.

In a post on X which also contained the NBA’s social media post detailing his sanction, Embiid appeared to suggest the gesture was similar to a signal that officials make when calling a foul for blocking.

He said: “Yall better start fining the refs for doing the ‘lewd’, ‘blocking foul’ gesture since I’m not allowed to do it.”

Cameroon-born Embiid did not play in Sunday’s 129-105 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, sitting out the match as he continues to manage his recovery from a knee injury which required surgery earlier this year.

Embiid was given a third foul against him by referee Jenna Schroeder when he charged Victor Wembanyama, knocking the Frenchman to the floor with two minutes and 59 seconds remaining of the first half.

The 76ers player argued the call with Schroeder and then had to be restrained from the official as he ripped off his protective face mask and continued his protests, leading to two technical fouls and his ejection from the match.

Earlier on, Schroeder’s decision to eject Philadelphia’s Andre Drummond for two technical fouls following a challenge on Wembanyama had been overturned.

“It was a wild first half,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said.

Tyrese Maxey produced 32 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to inspire Philadelphia to victory, while Wembanyama managed 26 points, nine rebounds and eight blocked shots.

Elsewhere, reigning NBA champions the Boston Celtics, who led by 15 points at half-time, suffered a 108-104 defeat by the Orlando Magic.

Tristan da Silva scored a team-high 18 points for Orlando against a Celtics team missing Jayson Tatum, who was unwell.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander impressed as he scored 41 points to help Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder to a 123-105 win against the Washington Wizards.

Embiid confronted the reporter in the Philadelphia locker room about an article that referred to his son and late brother, as well as criticising his fitness and professionalism.

The seven-time NBA All-Star and 2023 Most Valuable Player has yet to play this season because of a knee issue.

The incident happened after the 76ers’ 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

“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 is reported to have said.

As the altercation continued Embiid, 30, is then alleged to have pushed the reporter on the shoulder before a Sixers official got between the pair.

Embiid had mentioned the article in question during a news conference on Friday.

“When I see people saying ‘he doesn’t want to play’ – I’ve done way too much for this city, putting myself at risk, for people to be saying that,” he said.

In a statement, the NBA said: “We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation.”

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told ESPN the club has also launched an investigation and takes the situation “very seriously”.

His tally of 70 points beat the franchise record of 68, held by the legendary Wilt Chamberlain since 1967.

Embiid also made a career-high 18 rebounds and contributed five assists.

“When he gets motivated like that, anything can happen,” said 76ers coach Nick Nurse.

“He can score in so many ways. His sheer size gets him a lot of stuff around the basket and a lot of free throws.

“And his shooting touch is the skill that makes it extra hard to stop him.”

Tyrese Maxey was the next-highest scorer for the 76ers with 18 points, while number-one draft pick Victor Wembanyama scored 33 for the Spurs.

The 76ers, who have won three successive games, are third in the Eastern Conference, while the Spurs are bottom of the Western Conference with only eight wins from 43 matches.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored a franchise-record 62 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 128-125 home defeat by the Charlotte Hornets.

It was only the fourth time – and the first since 1978 – when two NBA players scored at least 60 points on the same day.

When Embiid, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, broke the 76ers record with one minute 41 seconds remaining, they called a timeout to allow him to leave the game. He received a standing ovation at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

David Robinson, David Thompson, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker and Damian Lillard are the other players to score 70 points or more in a game.

Chamberlain holds the record with 100 for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks in 1962.

The game was played 18 years to the day since Los Angeles Lakers legend Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors – the second-highest individual haul in NBA history.

“From the time I started playing, Kobe was my guy,” Embiid said.

“He’s the reason I started playing basketball. It’s funny, on the same night he got 81 and was my favourite player.”

Embiid has now scored at least 30 points in 21 consecutive games.

Kevin Durant scored a season-high 43 points to help the Phoenix Suns to a 115-113 home win over the Chicago Bulls.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and made 17 rebounds and 10 assists to help the Milwaukee Bucks to a 122-113 victory – their ninth in succession – at the Detroit Pistons.

Jayson Tatum contributed 39 points and 11 rebounds as the Boston Celtics won 119-110 at the Dallas Mavericks, for whom Luka Doncic scored 33 points.

It was Embiid’s second game in a row with 40-plus points while he also dished out 10 assists and claimed seven rebounds.

Jokic finished with 25 points and 19 rebounds for Denver, but reigning Most Valuable Player Embiid starred late on.

He scored 11 fourth-quarter points to lead the 76ers to a third straight win.

Philadelphia are third in the Eastern Conference, while the Nuggets stay third in the West, a game and a half behind the conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves.

Elsewhere, the Phoenix Suns produced an incredible comeback to beat the Sacramento Kings 119-117 in Arizona.

With eight minutes and 22 seconds remaining, the Suns trailed by 22 points before they went on a 32-8 run to snatch the win.

Kevin Durant led the way, scoring 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, and clinched the victory from the free-throw line.

Meanwhile, Paul George inspired the Los Angeles Clippers to a 128-117 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The 33-year-old forward scored 38 points against his former side with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden each adding 16 points for the Clippers.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has also announced that the Clippers’ new Intuit Dome, which is set to open next August, will host the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record is 16 games for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972.

Embiid registered 31 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the 76ers recorded an eighth win in nine games.

“I didn’t force anything. I think I took two shots in the first six or seven minutes, but I just let the game come to me.” said the Cameroonian.

“It came to me and then in the third quarter, I just found opportunities and made a few shots.”

Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris scored 33 points apiece for the 76ers, while Pascal Siakam top-scored for the Raptors with 31 points.

Elsewhere, Stephen Curry made a season-high eight three-pointers as he scored 30 points to inspire the Golden States Warriors to a 129-118 victory over the Washington Wizards.

The Denver Nuggets, who are the reigning champions, secured a 122-117 victory against the Brooklyn Nets, with Jamal Murray scoring 32 points and Nikola Jokic adding 31.

Domantas Sabonis recorded 28 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for his fourth triple-double of the season as he helped Sacramento Kings to a 120-105 win against the Phoenix Suns.

The 29-year-old is the first NBA player to score more than 30 points and 10 rebounds in 12 consecutive games since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 51 years ago.

Abdul-Jabbar’s record stands at 16 games for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972.

Embiid, the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player, helped the Sixers to their seventh win in eight games.

The Cameroonian scored 20 points in the first half then completed the seventh 50-pointer of his career and second of the season late in the fourth quarter.

It inflicted a first loss in five games on Western Conference leaders the Timberwolves.

“That’s one of the best teams in the league and the best in the West,” Embiid said. “I’m glad everybody just showed up.”

Embiid, the NBA’s top scorer, averaging 34.4 points per game, also became the first Sixers player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967 to score more than 40 points and 10 rebounds in three consecutive games.

Tyrese Maxey added 35 points for the Sixers, forming a prolific partnership with Embiid.

“He [Embiid] does it every night so consistently,” Maxey said. “We expect it of him and he goes out there and performs every single night.”

Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics moved to 21-6 at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 144-119 victory against the Sacramento Kings.

Jaylen Brown and Derrick White each scored 28 points in the absence of top scorer and rebounder Jayson Tatum who has a sprained ankle.

The LA Clippers extended their win streak to nine games with a 120-111 victory against the Dallas Mavericks. Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers.

Meanwhile, two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic scored 31 points and added 15 rebounds as reigning NBA champions the Denver Nuggets beat the Toronto Raptors 113-104.