The Memphis Grizzlies were in an absolute fight against the battle-tested Golden State Warriors for Game 2 of this best-of-seven series, eventually prevailing 106-101 to tie the series at 1-1.
However, for the second consecutive game of this series, the headlines from the game have been dominated by the actions of a player resulting in an ejection.
Early in the first quarter Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks struck Warriors guard Gary Payton II with a hard foul while in the air attempting a layup.
Memphis Grizzlies player Dillon Brooks ejected from Game 2 after hard foul
The referees looked at the replay of the action and determined it was a flagrant-2 foul, which resulted in the immediate ejection of Dillon Brooks from Game 2.
Unfortunately, Payton was unable to return to the game after the hard foul and it was later revealed that he has been diagnosed with a fractured left elbow, according to multiple reports.
Golden State Head Coach Steve Kerr confirmed an MRI will give the team more information about how long Payton may be out of action.
But, for the Grizzlies, the attention now turns to Brooks and whether or not he’ll be available to play. There are serious talks around the league that he may be suspended for at least a game, possibly more for his actions.
There is some recent precedence for a situation such as this. During the regular-season Milwaukee Bucks player Grayson Allen was in a similar situation in which he committed a flagrant-2 foul on Chicago Bulls player Alex Caruso. It resulted in Caruso breaking his wrist, which kept him out of action for months.
The NBA suspended Allen for one game for that play. Brooks could be looking at something similar, which would put his availability for Game 3 at Golden State in serious jeopardy.
Kerr, in his post-game comments, was basically pleading his case to the NBA through the media that Brooks should face further punishment.
“Guy comes in and whacks him across the head in mid-air,” Kerr said of Brooks on the Payton foul. “He broke the code. Dillon Brooks broke the code,” Kerr said flatly.
"I don't think Dillon Brooks is a dirty player... I don't think he tried to hurt him."@SHAQ & Chuck discuss Dillon Brooks' flagrant 2 foul on Gary Payton II. pic.twitter.com/69jmoUNnTx
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 4, 2022
A couple of NBA legends, Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley somewhat came to the defense of Dillon Brooks after the game on the NBA on TNT post-game show.
Both Shaq and Barkley said Brooks is not a dirty player and he didn’t appear to intentionally harm Payton II.
One thing’s for sure—the intensity for Game 3 of the Memphis Grizzlies vs Golden State Warriors just got turned up even further than what we saw in a hellacious Game 2.