Mason Plumlee and Steven Adams were both ejected from the Suns-Rockets matchup on Wednesday after brawling with one another, with Plumlee left bloodied from the fighting in Houston.
The veteran big men were jostling for position down low when Plumlee elbowed Adams in the shoulder as a shot went up.
The New Zealand native apparently didn’t appreciate that as he then locked arms with Plumlee and continued walking towards him before the Phoenix big man shoved him.
Plumee then got even closer to Adams as the pair remained entangled, before he wrestled the Rockets center to the ground in a chaotic scene.
Players and staff rushed in to separate the pair, and once Plumee was up, it emerged that he had a small but noticeable cut on his forehead.
Both players were promptly tossed from the game, and Adams could later be seen being held back in the tunnel.
Mason Plumlee was left bloodied after he and Steven Adams fought on Wednesday
Plumlee ended up on top of Adams as they pair wrestled with one another
Players and staff rushed in to separate the two before they were both ejected from the game
Adams reportedly got a standing ovation from the Rockets’ home fans before leaving the court.
Plumlee left the game with four points and six rebounds in 13 minutes.
Adams totaled one point and four rebounds in 11 minutes off the bench.
Fans pointed out that Adams once saved Plumlee from a serious injury in 2018, when Adams was on the Thunder and Plumee played for the Nuggets.
Plumlee came rushing over to try and block a shot from Adams, who had pump-faked and sent his opponent flying over him to the ground.
However, instead of going for the layup, Adams stuck his arm out to break Plumlee’s fall before helping him up.
Plumlee, 35, is in his 12th NBA season and has played for the Nets, Blazers, Nuggets, Pistons, Hornets, Clippers and Suns.
Adams, 31, is playing his 11th year in the league, and has spent time with the Thunder, Grizzlies, Pelicans and Rockets.
The Rockets ultimately won Wednesday’s game 111-104, as Jalen Green led the way with 29 points while Alperen Sengun chipped in with 20.
Bradley Beal had 25 for the Suns, who also got 19 apiece from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
However, Phoenix ultimately dropped to 30-36 on the year as they fell took a blow in the race for a play-in spot.
They are in the 11th-seed and now 2.5 games of the Mavericks with the loss.
Meanwhile, upstart Rockets have been one of the positive surprises of the NBA season and are fifth in the West with a 41-25 record.
