A heavyweight wrestling match broke out between Houston Rockets big man Steven Adams and Phoenix Suns center Mason Plumlee during a game at the Toyota Center Wednesday night. The altercation led to both players being ejected from the game, receiving double technical fouls.
Adams and Plumlee got tangled up while battling for rebounding position on a made jumper by Jalen Green with just over three minutes left in the second quarter. They ended up on the floor with several players, coaches, and security staffers surrounding them. According to Plumlee, Adams “goes for every rebound, and he does it whether it’s dirty or not.”
The two players went chest-to-chest in the paint before Plumlee pushed Adams backward as they reached the top of the key. The physical play appeared to escalate into a brief scuffle, with Adams attempting to lift Plumlee off the floor.
After a review, crew chief Tony Brothers announced that both players received double technical fouls and were ejected from the game. Rockets coach Ime Udoka expressed surprise at the ejection, stating he thought it was “a little bear hug” that might have been considered a minor infraction.
Despite the altercation, Adams received a standing ovation from Rockets fans as he left the tunnel. The Rockets went on to win 111-104 against the Suns.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44228062/suns-plumlee-rockets-adams-ejected-first-half-skirmish