In a heated matchup between the Phoenix Suns and the Houston Rockets, an intense altercation between centers Mason Plumlee and Steven Adams led to both players being ejected from the game.
The incident occurred late in the 2nd quarter as the Rockets’ Jalen Green attempted a midrange jumper.
During the play, Plumlee and Adams became entangled while vying for rebound positioning.
The physicality escalated when Adams lifted Plumlee off the court, resulting in both players tumbling to the ground in a wrestling-like scuffle. The confrontation prompted both benches to clear as teammates and officials rushed to separate the two.
Following a review, officials assessed double technical fouls to both players, leading to their ejections, as NBA rules mandate automatic ejection for fighting.
Crew chief Tony Brothers explained, “Their aggressive actions were considered a fight, and by rule, fighting technical fouls carry a penalty of automatic ejections.”
Reactions and Aftermath
Plumlee sustained a minor cut above his right eye during the altercation but stated it was “nothing major.“
Postgame, he commented on the incident: “We just got tied up. [Adams] had been going to the boards and doing what he does, so just met him with physicality and, yeah, you all saw it.”
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka expressed surprise at the severity of the punishment, noting, “It looked like they threw each other down. They both fell down and whatever, … .”
Prior to their ejections, Plumlee had contributed four points and six rebounds for … , while Adams recorded one point, four rebounds, and an assist for the Rockets. Despite the disruption, the Rockets secured a 111-104 victory, marking their fourth consecutive win.
