The top two teams in the West, the Rockets and OKC, played against each other tonight, and inevitable drama was expected. It was a close game, but things really heated up in the last minute when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks fought for a loose ball.
The Oklahoma City Thunder lost 119-116 to the Houston Rockets on Monday night. Even though they lost, OKC stayed in first place in the Western Conference, just ahead of the Rockets. But the real drama came at the end of the game.
With under a minute left and the score tied at 113, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander grabbed a rebound. Dillon Brooks attempted to steal the ball from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, leading to a heated battle for possession.
Kenrich Williams rushed in to help Shai. At least 30 staff and players were on the floor, trying to separate them as the situation escalated. The referees reviewed the play and ultimately called a jump ball, allowing the game to continue without any ejections or major penalties.
Dillon Brooks responds to the intense late-game fight
After the game, Dillon Brooks talked about his fight with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Even though it was intense, he called it a “friendly battle” and mentioned the respect and friendship he has with Shai.
“That’s just a friendly battle, Brooks said, reflecting on their shared experiences as teammates on Team Canada. “That just goes back to training camp – in Team Canada – for sure.”
Brooks finished the game with 16 points and 7 rebounds. It’s impressive how he kept his sportsmanship, even after the heated moments during the game.
