Tempers flared on the hardwood Saturday night between Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. and Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn resulting in suspensions for both players. The NBA announced the disciplinary action on Sunday afternoon. According to the league report, Smith Jr. and Dunn threw punches at each other during the game, leading to their ejection and technical fouls.

Dunn received a two-game suspension without pay, meaning he will miss the Jazz’s upcoming games against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday and the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Smith Jr. will serve a one-game suspension, sitting out the Rockets’ matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. Not only that, both players will suffer financially as Kris Dunn would have felt the impact of $35,678 while Jabari stands at a loss of $53,601, with the total loss coming at almost over $89,000.

The on-court altercation happened with 11:55 left in the second quarter, during the Rockets’ 147-119 victory over the Jazz at the Toyota Center on March 23rd. Dunn initiated with a jab at Smith’s head, and Smith wasn’t one to back down. Luckily, teammates and refs intervened before things got too rough.

This marked round two for Smith and Dunn, who haven’t forgotten their January shoving match. This wasn’t the first Houston flare-up this week. Just a couple of nights prior, Rockets’ Dillon Brooks and Chicago Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan got themselves ejected in a game against the Bulls.

Rockets on Fire Despite Missing Big Man Jabari

Despite losing Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun (out with an ankle sprain), the Rockets dominated Utah. Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet combined for a staggering 75 points while raining down 17 three-pointers. This victory extended Houston’s win streak to 8 games.

The Rockets have been on fire lately, winning 10 of their last 11 contests. This surge has them just 1.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the coveted 10th seed in the West, which grants entry to the play-in tournament. Smith Jr., averaging a career-high 13.3 points and 8.5 rebounds this season, had only managed 5 points before his ejection. Dunn, in his 2nd year with the Jazz, contributed 2 points in 6 minutes before being tossed out. He’s averaging 5.3 points and 3.9 assists per game in the final year of his contract.

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The on-court efforts couldn’t overpower the Rockets’ spirit. They secured a 147-119 victory, extending their win streak to 8 and putting them firmly in the play-in race. Meanwhile, the Jazz are on a five-game losing streak and trail Houston by a significant 7.5 games in the standings.

The Houston Rockets are playing impeccably well, setting their sights on the Portland Trail Blazers next. Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz will try to put an end to their losing streak against the Dallas Mavericks. Can the Rockets keep the wins rolling without any early ejections? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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