An on-court fight during the Chicago Bulls-Houston Rockets game Thursday night involving multiple players resulted in the ejection of star players DeMar DeRozan and Dillon Brooks. Houston ultimately won the game, 127-117.
The collision occurred in the third quarter, with 6:02 left and the Rockets leading 84-75. As Houston's Jalen Green carried the ball down the court, Chicago's DeRozan came off a screen and controlled it with his hip, sending Green to the court in obvious agony.
Houston's Brooks took offense to what referees later determined was a flagrant foul and immediately approached DeRozan. When DeRozan turned to face Brooks, DeRozan elbowed him in the chin, exacerbating the dispute, and other teammates joined in almost immediately. Team personnel and security also attempted to intervene.
Upon review, DeRozan's initial foul was ruled a flagrant foul 2 and he was ejected. Brooks received a technical foul for instigating the conflict and was subsequently ejected.
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DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against Dillon Brooks #9 of the Houston Rockets in the second half at the Toyota Center on March 21, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Both team coaches addressed the conflict after the game.
“I think there was some contact on some drives, some fouls, previous calls that weren't called,” Bulls interim coach Billy Donovan said. “Obviously, DeMar jumped off that screen and fouled Green.”
“I don't think DeMar's intention was to get a flagrant 2, it was certainly a foul and of course a flagrant 1 and they were shooting a free throw,” Donovan said. “I don't think it was ever his intention to do that. In fact, I was a little surprised that he was elevated to a flagrant 2, personally.”
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Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan, center left, and Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks, center right, stay apart during a fight that occurred after DeRozan's flagrant foul on the Rockets' Jale Green during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday. March 21, 2024, in Houston. Both DeRozan and Brooks were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls is ejected in the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 21, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Rockets coach Ime Udoka said he “didn't love it” when Brooks was ejected “because he got elbowed.”
“He came up and didn't say anything crazy,” Udoka continued. “But they say the rules are the kind that kind of instigated it to get to that step after DeRozan did what he did, he was suspended for it.”
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Udoka also applauded Brooks' performance before the ejection: “He had a great game, a great impact, I wish he didn't get ejected but, like I said, I don't mind him defending his guys.”
Fred VanVleet #5 of the Houston Rockets assists Jalen Green #4 in the second half at the Toyota Center on March 21, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
When Brooks was ejected, he was leading the team with 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting for Houston. DeRozan left the court with 16 points on just 4 of 15 shooting and 8 of 9 from the line.
Crew manager Curtis Blair clarified the review and penalties after the game.
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“DeRozan received a flagrant foul 2 penalty because the contact was excessive and unnecessary,” Blair said. “Because Brooks escalated the situation, he received a technical foul and was ejected.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
