Stars DeMar DeRozan and Dillon Brooks were ejected after a multi-player scuffle broke out on the court during Thursday night’s game between the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets. In the end, Houston won 127-117.
The matchup took place in the third quarter, with the Rockets leading 84-75 with 6:02 left. As Houston’s Jaylen Green was carrying the ball up the court, Chicago’s DeRozan came off a screen and hip-checked him, sending Green into the court in obvious distress.
Houston’s Brooks took exception to what the referee later determined was a flagrant foul and immediately approached DeRozan. When DeRozan turned toward Brooks, DeRozan escalated the scuffle by elbowing Brooks in the jaw, and other teammates joined in almost immediately. Team staff and security also attempted to intervene.
After review, DeRozan’s first foul was determined to be Aggravated Foul 2 and he was ejected. Brooks was given a technical foul for inciting the collision and was ejected.
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No. 11 DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls goes to the basket against No. 9 Dillon Brooks of the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on March 21, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Coaches from both teams addressed the clash after the game.
“I think there was some contact on some drives, some fouls, some previous calls that weren’t called,” Bulls interim coach Billy Donovan said. “Obviously, DeMar jumped off the screen and fouled Green.”
“I don’t think Demar’s intention was to go for a flagrant 2. It was definitely a foul, and of course it was a flagrant 1, and they’re shooting free throws,” Donovan said. “I don’t think that was his intention. Personally, I was actually a little surprised that it was elevated to Vicious 2.”
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Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (center left) and Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (center right) during the second half of Thursday’s NBA basketball game as DeRozan flagrantly hits Jail Green of the Rockets. They are held back by each other during a scuffle that ensues after a foul. Houston, March 21, 2024. DeRozan and Brooks were charged with technical fouls and ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
DeMar DeRozan, No. 11 of the Chicago Bulls, is ejected in the second half of the game against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on March 21, 2024. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Rockets coach Iim Udoka said he “didn’t like” that Brooks was ejected “for getting elbowed.”
“He walked away and didn’t say anything out of the ordinary,” Udoka continued. “But they say the rules are inciting it to take that step after what DeRozan did, for which he was suspended.”
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Udoka also praised Brooks’ performance leading up to his ejection, saying, “Great game, great impact. I wish he hadn’t been ejected, but like I said, I think he was a good player for his guys. I don’t mind standing up for it.”
Fred VanVleet #5 of the Houston Rockets assists Jaylen Green #4 in AC in the second half at Toyota Center on March 21, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
When Brooks was ejected, Houston was scoring a team-leading 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting. DeRozan left the court with 16 points on 4-of-15 shooting and 8-of-9 from the line.
Crew chief Curtis Blair revealed the review and penalty after the game.
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“Due to the excessive and unnecessary contact, DeRozan was assessed two egregious foul penalties,” Blair said. “Brooks escalated the situation and was given a technical foul and ejected.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
