Inside The Nets

Claxton and Niang's altercation shakes up Nets-Cavaliers game

Both players have to be separated after a heated play during Q1.

Peter Sunjic

© David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
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Both Nic Claxton and Georges Niang briefly occupied the spotlight of the Brooklyn Nets-Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday bout as they ignited an in-game tussle at the early portion of the game.

At what point did both Clax and Niang go at it?

The heated incident occurred at the 8:42 mark of the first quarter. As they got tangled up in an interior battle, Niang forcibly dragged Claxton to the ground. The Cavs forward taunted Nic by stepping over him, forcing the Nets center to immediately stand up and commence an altercation.

Referees and Nets staffers have quickly entered the scenes to separate both sides. The enraged Claxton shoved an official during the process before he was ultimately cooled down in the aftermath of the commotion.

T’d up by the refs

Upon the review made by the referees, both Niang and Claxton were slapped with a pair of technical fouls for the scrum they formed during the matchup. They still managed to end the game as the Nets won in a wire-to-wire fashion over the Cavaliers on the road, 120-101.

Nic finished the night with a solid double-double output of 16 points and 10 boards while shooting 7-of-10 from the field for 28 minutes of play. For his part, Georges produced 20 points in 8-of-12 shooting to go with three boards in the Cavs’ losing effort.

Brooklyn pulls off the upset by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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