Tensions boiled over between the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets on Saturday (all times AEDT) as four players were ejected from the contest.
A minute into the fourth quarter with the Kings up 112-94, Malik Monk was fouled by Garrison Matthews after both players chased after a loose ball.
While Matthews was arguing the call with the referee, Monk stripped the ball out of his hands, prompting a fiery response from the Rockets guard as both players squared off in a heated showdown.
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Sat, 14 Jan
Saturday January 14th
It prompted multiple players from both sides to get involved in hectic scenes at Golden 1 Center as other players, referees and coaches had to intervene.
“Well that escalated quickly,” Kings commentator Kayte Christensen noted.
After reviewing the play, the officials slapped Monk and Matthews with technical fouls and ejected them from the game.
Kings big man Chimezie Metu was also tossed for “being an escalator,” while Rockets rookie Tari Eason “came in and he was an instigator.”
“That was a foul clearly on Matthews. Malik didn’t hit him, all he did was punch the ball loose, Sacramento play-by-play called Mark Jones said.
“I would say don’t play sports if you don’t want to get your feelings hurt man. Just play on.”
Prior to his ejection, Monk was the game’s leading scorer with 15 points off the bench.
It marked the end of a two-game series between the two sides in Sacramento, with the Kings going on to win 135-115 behind big games from Domantas Sabonis (19 points, 15 rebounds, 16 assists, two steals and two blocks), Harrison Barnes (27 points), Terrence Davis (22 points, three steals) and De’Aaron Fox (24 points, five rebounds, five assists.
The teams will play a similar series in Houston on February 7 and 9.
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