Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell and Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks nearly caused an all-out melee Thursday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse when the two got into an altercation just after the halfway mark of the third period.
It happened after Brooks drove to the basket and missed a shot. Donovan Mitchell got the rebound but just when he was about to pass the ball, Brooks appeared to make contact with him. Mitchell fell to the ground as a result and immediately threw the ball to Brooks. The two got up, with Mitchell giving Brooks a hard shove. Before things get even more serious, Cavs and Grizzlies players and the refs got in the middle to break up the altercation.
Whether what Brooks did was intentional was not, it did appear that Donovan Mitchellâs reaction suggests that it was a pretty painful hit, especially since it landed on a sensitive part.
Brooks has rapidly gained quite an unpleasant reputation in the NBA with actions like this. It was not that long ago when he got into a verbal spat with former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe during a Grizzlies game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
As for Donovan Mitchell, it doesnât seem as though he was seriously hurt during that wild sequence as he was able to get up right away and go after Brook. If anything, suspensions could be looming for him and Brooks.
The Cavs play the Indiana Pacers up next on Sunday, while the Grizzlies take on the Toronto Raptors on the same day.