CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell took his most vicious photographs at Dillon Brooks after the sport.
Accusing Brooks of being a unclean participant, Mitchell mentioned the NBA must do one thing concerning the Memphis guard’s unruly dangerous habits after he smashed Cleveland’s All-Star guard within the groin through the Cavaliers’ 128-113 victory over the Grizzlies on Thursday evening.
“That’s simply who he’s,” mentioned Mitchell, who was ejected within the third quarter for throwing the ball at Brooks. “We’ve seen it a bunch on this league with him. Him and I’ve had our private battles for years.
“There’s no place for that within the recreation. This has been brewing for years with me and different guys within the league. You all see it. This isn’t new.”
Darius Garland scored 32 factors shortly after being left off the All-Star group and carried Cleveland following Mitchell’s ejection because the Cavs handed the Grizzlies their seventh loss in eight video games.
Garland was one in every of a number of gamers having All-Star-caliber seasons not named an Japanese Convention reserve by the coaches. He added 11 assists because the Cavs bounced again from a tricky loss to Miami on Tuesday evening.
“He was good,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff mentioned. “He knew how vital this recreation was to us and what we would have liked from him. That’s what leaders do.”
Mitchell, voted an All-Star starter final week, was tossed within the third quarter for throwing the ball at Brooks after the pair tangled beneath the basket. Brooks additionally was thrown out.
With the Cavs main 81-76, Brooks missed a shot and fell within the lane. Whereas on the ground, he flung his arm again and struck Mitchell, who was standing over him, within the groin space. Mitchell dropped in ache and retaliated by firing the ball at Brooks after which charging and shoving him alongside the baseline in entrance of the Memphis bench.
Because the altercation threatened to spill into the seats, officers and gamers have been in a position to get issues beneath management earlier than any punches have been thrown.
It’s doable the league might punish Brooks additional, and Mitchell believes further penalities are warranted.
“There ought to be one thing,” he mentioned. “This isn’t only a Donovan factor. This has occurred to different gamers all through this league, and it’s full (expletive). These guys discuss (junk) and that’s fantastic, that’s all part of basketball. All of us grew up enjoying that means.
“However if you begin doing low cost (stuff), that ain’t it. That’s the place my frustration lies. It’s not about speaking backwards and forwards. That’s cool, however if you begin doing little stuff like that.”
Bickerstaff felt Mitchell, who mentioned he has had earlier run-ins with Brooks, had each proper to defend himself.
“That was an inexpensive shot in a number of methods,” he mentioned. “A man ought to have the proper to face up for himself. I believed Donovan did that. I’m happy with our guys. We don’t have these guys that begin (expletive)t, however we now have guys who don’t run from (expletive) shit and it’s a must to on this league.
“You need to get up for your self. That’s what he did and his teammates had his again.”
Brooks refused to debate the altercation with Mitchell in any element. When he was requested concerning the alternate, Memphis All-Star Ja Morant stepped in and mentioned the Grizzlies wouldn’t discuss concerning the incident.
Brooks did say he agreed with the flagrant-2 name.
“It saved me some T’s (technicals),” he mentioned.
The Grizzlies have a repute because the NBA’s most talkative group, however Morant believes they’re being unfairly judged.
“Something in terms of detrimental concerning the Grizzlies, we usually, you realize, get the punishment,” Morant mentioned. “It ain’t the identical. They (the NBA) hate us.”
Whereas Mitchell mentioned he and Brooks have an extended historical past, Morant denied the Grizzlies having any points with the four-time All-Star.
“We don’t bought no historical past with no person,” Morant mentioned. “We don’t beef with no person.”
Cedi Osman scored 21 factors and Jarrett Allen added 18 factors and 11 rebounds for Cleveland.
Evan Mobley had 17 factors and 14 rebounds.
Desmond Bane scored 25 factors and Morant had 24 factors, eight rebounds and eight assists for Grizzlies regardless of being in foul hassle a lot of the evening.
Memphis performed with out All-Star ahead Jaren Jackson Jr., who sustained a thigh bruise in Tuesday evening in a loss to Portland.