Scuffle Breaks Out Between Suns, Mavs
PHOENIX -- There's always some expected fireworks when the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks meet.
It didn't take long for the show to start.
With 8:02 in the first quarter, Jusuf Nurkic went to set a screen for Kevin Durant, who had his arm grabbed by Grant Williams. After the official called for a defensive foul, Williams stood over Durant while he tried to plead his case speaking to the officials and Nurkic took exception, shoving him out of the way which prompted a scuffle between the two sides.
After a lengthy amount of time at the scorer's table, the officials assessed technical fouls to all three players on top of the defensive foul on Williams.
ESPN NBA official analyst Steve Javie gave some insight into the situation on the broadcast:
"Immediately, right away, I'm thinking technical foul Mike. I think they got this right. They have the defensive foul first. And the way Nurkic comes in and shoves Williams out of the way, definitely a technical foul. Durant reacting that way for a technical foul. Important to get this early in the game too, because you want to make sure there's nothing else going on. I think they got it right and hopefully the game continues on smoothly."
This is just the latest in a line of extra events between the two teams, and it doesn't appear any love has been lost since the last time they met on Christmas.
