Dillon Brooks, who has been feuding with LeBron James, this series, was ejected for hitting The King in the groin early in the third quarter of the Lakers’ 111-101 Game 3 win over the Grizzlies in Los Angeles.
The Lakers now hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven, first-round series.
The 27-year-old Grizzlies guard, who called the 38-year-old James “old” earlier in the series, was given a flagrant 2 foul for the shot and was bounced from the game.
Brooks, who was booed by Lakers fans everytime he touched the ball, committed the flagrant foul while guarding James near midcourt just 17 seconds into the second half, and James went down in obvious pain.
Officials tossed Brooks after a brief video review, leading to a raucous celebration in the Los Angeles stands for the misfortune of the reviled Grizzlies forward.
James, who had 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists, remained in the game and had the last laugh.
“I didn’t make a statement,” James said after the Lakers’ Game 3 win. “I’ve been doing this too long. I’m not making any statements. We had the opportunity to come home and play well on our home floor, and we did that. No statement was made. We just wanted to play well, and we got a win. I don’t need to make statements.”
Brooks, on the other hand, scored just seven points before he was ejected.
Ja Morant, who played a dominant fourth quarter, led the Grizzlies with 45 points. Anthony Davis scored 31 points to lead the Lakers.
Brooks declined to speak to reporters after the game.
Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins only commented tersely on Brooks’ ejection: “Officials made a call.”
Before the game, James clapped back at Brooks’ charge that he was past his prime.
“I’m not here for the bulls–t,” James said, according to ESPN. “I’m ready to play and that’s it.”
The Grizzlies defeated the Lakers 103-93 in Game 2; James had 28 points but he was 1-8 from 3-point range and the Lakers were outscored by 17 points while he was in the game.
After Memphis’ win on Wednesday, Brooks was blunt in his description of where he thinks James’ game is at now.
“I don’t care — he’s old. You know what I mean?” Brooks asked. “I was waiting for that. I was expecting him to do that Game 4, Game 5. He wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He should have been saying that earlier on. But I poke bears. I don’t respect no one until they come and give me 40.”
Needless to say, but now the rivalry between the two has been amped up after this latest incident.
— with AP