Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks received an ejection during a Sunday night clash with the Phoenix Suns because of his fight with Phoenix star Kevin Durant.
Brooks committed his foul against Durant when the Suns forward tried to reach the basket during the second quarter. The explosion of tensions between the two players resulted in a brief shoving incident, which needed teams and officials to step in.
Referees issued technical fouls to Brooks and Durant together with technical infractions to Suns center Nick Richards. Brooks received a second technical violation when he persisted in his arguments with referees which led to his removal from the match. The game had already seen eight points scored by Brooks in 11 minutes.
Brooks’ Ejection Sparks Debate
The ejection of Brooks sparked a flurry of reactions from commentators and fans alike. ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith voiced his frustration on social media, stating, “This is driving me crazy. I’m watching the @HoustonRockets vs @Suns game. Dillon Brooks did not deserve to get thrown out of this game.”
In response to the altercation, one fan humorously noted, “Dillon Brooks saw the fight broke out between Detroit & Minnesota and got inspired to up his antics today.”
Impact On The Game And Team Outlook
Even with the early exit of Brooks, the Rockets maintained their momentum, securing a commanding 148-109 victory over the Suns.
The Rockets won after Jalen Green scored 33 points followed by Alperen Şengün, who delivered 16 points and nine rebounds. The Rockets secured their spot as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference by achieving this important victory.
On the Suns’ side, the game took another unfortunate turn when Durant suffered a left ankle sprain in the third quarter and did not return. Durant is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday and will miss the team’s upcoming road trip.
Looking ahead, the Rockets are set to face the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night in Los Angeles. With Brooks nearing the threshold for an automatic one-game suspension due to technical fouls, his availability for upcoming games remains uncertain.
