Dillon Brooks struggled in the first half of Game 3 between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers. Brooks scored seven points on 3-for-13 shooting after publicly challenging LeBron James immediately after Game 2, then, just after the teams exited the locker room for the second half, play resumed and Brooks was thrown out for hitting James. below the belt.
With the Grizzlies trailing 53-37, James attempted to run the ball upfield as Brooks offered resistance. Brooks extended his arm as James went behind his back, at which point Brooks hit James below the belt. Unsurprisingly, the future Hall of Fame inductee touched the bridge in severe pain.
Referees went to the monitor to review the streak, and it didn’t take long for them to determine that Brooks would be awarded a Flagrant 2 for it. It was a difficult end to the evening after the Grizzlies had a particularly difficult first half – beyond their 37 points when they entered the locker room, Memphis only scored nine points in the first quarter and found themselves in a historically large deficit after one in playoff history.
Both teams entered Game 3 tied at one game apiece. The day after Memphis won Game 2, Brooks spoke to the press about staring at James during the game, saying, “I don’t care – he’s old. You know what I mean? I was expecting this. I expected him to do this Game 4, Game 5. He wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He should have said it earlier. But I bite bears. I don’t respect anyone until they come and give me 40.”
Add comment