On Thursday night, the Indiana Pacers bounced back after losing to the Denver Nuggets in a tough back-to-back road game schedule.
The Pacers outscored the Utah Jazz in three quarters ending their undefeated home streak in a 111-100 win.
In a hostile environment, Malcolm Brogdon quietly dropped 30 points and Donovan Mitchell’s 26 points weren’t enough to secure a win.
All eyes down the stretch were on reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and defensive anchor Myles Turner.
“The tussle began after Gobert appeared to pull Turner down to the ground with him after Turner blocked his shot at the rim with just over four minutes left in the game. Turner responded by shoving Gobert in the back, which led the Jazz center to bear hug Turner and try to wrestle him to the floor. Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles joined the fray as members of both teams converged near the Jazz bench. Gobert, Turner, Mitchell and Ingles were all ejected,” per ESPN
In the aftermath of the scuffle, Gobert addressed the media on how the argument transpired.
“We know we’re not going to fight so like guys need to stop acting like they’re going to fight,” Gobert told media members. “They know that in two seconds there’s going to be 20 security guards in between us.”
Although Gobert says Myles Turner “isn’t about that life”, most NBA players are very smart in not allocating senseless fines.
The Jazz will face the Pacers in their second and final matchup Jan. 8.
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