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[Saba Sports News] The Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets were trading blows—figuratively and nearly literally—like it was the early 2000s all over again.
A heated altercation broke out late in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s matchup in Indiana. With the Nets holding an 84-79 lead and under five minutes remaining, head coach Jordi Fernandez called a timeout following a bucket by Pacers forward Bennedict Mathurin.
As players walked toward their benches, Nets forward Trendon Watford made contact with Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard. That contact didn’t sit well with Pacers center Myles Turner, who immediately shoved Watford—sparking an all-out scuffle.
Watford shoved Turner back, and both benches quickly swarmed the scene, causing a chaotic moment right by the courtside seats. At one point, Fernandez sprinted in to play peacemaker but ended up getting pushed into the first row.
When the dust settled, Watford was ejected while Turner and Nembhard were hit with technical fouls. No free throws were awarded, as the techs offset each other.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for the Pacers this season. Earlier in the year, a Pistons player was tossed for barreling into a Pacers player mid-game. Whether it’s intensity or irritation, Indiana continues to find itself in the middle of these dust-ups.