Favors, Plumlee Ejected After Altercation
Jan 23, 2019, 10:23 PM
Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets players get into a scuffle as they play an NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) and Denver Nuggets forward Mason Plumlee (24) were ejected from the game. (Scott G Winterton)
(Scott G Winterton)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz big man Derrick Favors and Denver Nuggets center Mason Plumlee were both ejected in the first quarter after an altercation.
The scuffle happened with 2:46 remaining in the first quarter with the Jazz holding a 25-14 lead. Plumlee was going up for a shot in the paint with Favors and Jae Crowder contesting and caused contest. The officials called a foul, sending Plumlee to the free throw line when his arm was tangled with Favors leading to Plumlee pushing Favors and the Jazz big man grabbing the arm of Plumlee to get him out of the way.
That was when Plumlee would get into Favors’ face and the two players would exchange words before Favors pushed Plumlee. The Nuggets center reacted by going after Favors before players and coaches from both teams separated the scuffle.
— Zak Hicken (@zakhicken) January 24, 2019
Both Plumlee and Favors were assessed technical fouls and were ejected from the game. Jazz guard Royce O’Neale and Denver Nuggets guard Will Barton were both given technical fouls for shoving each other but remained in the game.
Favors was scoreless with two rebounds in five minutes of play when he was ejected. Plumlee finished with two points, one rebound, one block and one turnover in four minutes.
The NBA office will review the incident and determine if Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic and guard Gary Harris left the bench area during the altercation. If the league thinks they did so, they will receive a one-game suspension.
