Upon kicking Jazz guard Collin Sexton during an ongoing game, Rockets forward Dillon Brooks has been dinged for his 16th technical foul of the 2024/25 season, per Bleacher Report (Twitter video link).
This will yield a one-game suspension for the frisky veteran swingman, Bleacher Report notes, unless the league rescinds the call.
Sexton was defending Brooks as the latter wing pivoted into the post. Brooks leapt up and dropped the ball in what looks like an effort to sell a foul call against Sexton, but in so doing appeared to kick Sexton in a sensitive area.
Houston can ill afford to lose Brooks at all, as the club strives to hold on to its No.2 overall seed in a very crowded Western Conference playoff picture.
At 49-27, the Rockets are currently just two games ahead of No. 3-seeded Denver, and 2.5 games in front of No. 4-seeded Los Angeles. The 44-31 Warriors and 44-32 Grizzlies aren’t far behind, either. With six games left in the Rockets’ season, the young team could prove catchable.
When he isn’t caught fouling the opposition the 29-year-old Brooks is a highly valuable piece on both sides of the ball.
Through 72 games this year, the 2023 All-Defensive Teamer is averaging 13.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.8 steals a night. He’s also logging a .422/.395/.824 slash line.