Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Veteran guard Grayson Allen shoved center Chet Holmgren to the ground, leading to an ejection during a Phoenix Suns loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The incident occurred in the third quarter of the 138-89 lopsided setback Wednesday in Oklahoma City. Allen recorded 10 points, while Holmgren supplied 24 for the Thunder (24-1), who tied the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the best 25-game start in NBA history.
The Thunder led 94-58 with about 5:30 remaining in the third quarter at the start of the ejection sequence. Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dribbled the ball over half court. Holmgren then ran around a screen, but collided with Allen in the process. Allen proceeded to use both of his arms to shove Holmgren backwards.
The 7-foot-1 center crashed to the floor before jumping back to his feet. Thunder and Suns players participated in a brief scuffle, but eventually separated. Referees issued a flagrant foul 2 and ejection to the Suns guard, resulted in his exit.
"I felt like I gave a good foul within the physicality of the game and what was going on both ends, especially with the bumps on screens, some of the hits on block-outs that were happening," Allen told AZCentral.com.
"It was straight up. He was cutting into me. Definitely a foul, but I thought it was within the physicality of the game. I think the reaction afterwards kind of played into that."
The Thunder outscored the Suns 36-24 in the third quarter and 28-17 in the fourth to close out the lopsided win. They outshot their foes 59.1% to 39.3%, led by as many as 53 points and never trailed.
"I thought the refs handled the situation well," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault told reporters, when asked about the third-quarter scuffle.
"Those things can get a little squirrelly from time to time if the refs don't handle it with a firm hand. I thought they handled it appropriately."
Gilgeous-Alexander logged a game-high 28 points in the victory. Thunder forwards Jalen Williams and Luguentz Dort chipped in 15 and 12 points, respectively.
Forward Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 16 points.
Allen, who made 3 of 9 shots and 2 of 7 3-point attempts, averaged a career-high 16.5 points, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game through his first 17 starts this season.
The Suns (14-11) will host the Los Angeles Lakers (17-7) at 8 p.m. EST Sunday in Phoenix. The Thunder will face the San Antonio Spurs (17-7) in an NBA Cup semifinal at 9 p.m. Saturday in Las Vegas.
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe FrazierJoe Frazier and Muhammad Ali’s rivalry became one of boxing’s most defining trilogies. Frazier (R) staggers after taking a hard right from Ali during the 14th round of their title fight in Manila, on October 1, 1975. Ali won by TKO to retain the heavyweight championship. UPI File Photo | License Photo