Suns and Rockets Brawl, Ron Artest Is Not Involved

Things got a little crazy near the end of the third quarter during the Suns-Rockets game in Phoenix. Houston had a comfortable lead of 74-55, when Matt Barnes fought a little too hard through a Rafer Alston screen, shoving Rafer pretty good to try to get into position to contest a Tracy McGrady three-pointer. The shot went down, but Alston came hard at Barnes, getting chest to chest with him and letting him know the shove was unappreciated. Then things escalated pretty quickly from there.

Steve Nash stepped in to try to break it up, McGrady came over and shoved Nash to the floor, Shaquille O'Neal decked T-Mac by shoving him with two hands, and the chaos was on. Nash and Alston were being held apart, coaches came onto the floor -- thankfully, Ron Artest did not -- and that was it as the referees went to the replay before dishing out the technical fouls.

Matt Barnes and Rafer Alston were both ejected, T-Mac and Nash each received technical fouls, and Shaq got one for his shove ... which meant incredibly, the Rockets would get to shoot a technical free throw after their player (Alston) was the one that escalated things to playoff level in the first place.

Now sure, Barnes definitely started things by checking Alston while trying to get through that screen. But Rafer didn't have to run up to him afterwards and get all up in his face like that. Especially with his team up 19 at the time. But hey, this is a guy who talks back to the police to the point where he gets himself arrested, so I guess we really shouldn't be surprised. We'll have to wait and see if the league is going to hand down suspensions; I think Rafer's guaranteed to miss some games, but after that, it's anyone's guess what David Stern's crew will decide.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-13-2008 @ 1:07AM

Jeffrey said...

...

I'm sorry, WHY should Alston miss games? He didn't throw a punch or anything, he got in Barnes's face for a cheap shot, and Nash went after Alston. Were you even watching the same game?

11-13-2008 @ 1:32AM

Randy said...

Nash, is a baby........
He always has been, even when he was in Dallas!!

11-13-2008 @ 1:27AM

Miranda said...

You really changed what happened to spin this story. I might suggest everyone watch the video... instead of listening to this perspective.

11-13-2008 @ 1:34AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkjWnoM7WD0

11-13-2008 @ 1:43AM

WTF said...

Nice to see you all don't haver a slanted view of things! Pff! Barnes should've been called for a foul (not even a flagrant 1) but Alston decided to play the hot Chihuahua and go after Barnes. McGrady jumps Nash, who is just defending his teammate. Shaq was just funny.
Anyway, it was an all around bad night for the Suns and the Rockets reacted badly. Some of you want to escalate it into a Middle East crisis- get a life!

11-13-2008 @ 3:08PM

tom said...

People should watch the video and not reading from this moron!

reckoner said...

wow I can't believe what some people think about this... please let your bias go when you talk, try not to sound like a complete moron. I can't wait until Artest gets in a fight sometime this season - "that dude just got in the way of Artest's fist!! come on!!" ... But to the issue.
Can't Alston take some contact without starting sh*t? Sure Barnes didn't need to make hard contact like that with Rafer, but so what? Alston is a professional basketball player, can't he act like one? Alston has always been a loose cannon. Throughout his whole career he has been criticized for poor attitude and work ethic. When he was in Toronto in 04/05 he reportedly had a fight with coach Sam Mitchell (in which Mitchell wrestled him to the ground, it is reported). Since then he has been arrested several times. What a great role model.
With this b/s attitude from the Rockets, it looks like the Rockets are headed to another failed season.

jaheen beckett said...

I guess you don't play basketball. Rafer Alston is better than me cuz I would have floored him and I would have went after Shaqs big ass. People got the right to react when sombody gives them a shot like that I don't care if your up by 50. He's human just like you are and if you let people do that to you once then sombody going to do it again and might hurt you. Plus the refs didn't call nothing. Please. It's real typical for sombody to bring somthing up taht has nothin to do with the situation. Totally different situation. Get a life!

11-13-2008 @ 3:07PM

jason davis said...

that ish was bananas b. stuck on stupid mode. Shaq got Godzilla on that ass. LOL

11-13-2008 @ 4:42PM

Bryan said...

Barnes has a history of taking cheap shots.

He plays, as its know on the street, ngga ball. cheap shots, extra contact after the whistle, trying to take out the other mans legs, just trying to do damage in general.

i think a response was not uncalled for

11-13-2008 @ 10:17PM

rock said...

If you were to bet me 10 years that Rafer Alston would make it out of NYC and Fresno with less bullet holes in his body than Loyld Daniels I'd have lost my house.

11-13-2008 @ 10:18PM

Nick said...

Honestly, I think Shaq should be thrown out of the damn league. He's a grade- A P.O.S. He jumps in on a fight that has nothing to do with him, and pushes people who aren't looking. These guys are like a foot shorter than him and weigh 100 pounds less, and he has to shove someone in the back like a bitch. Come on "superman", be a man an push me in the face. Shaq doesn't wanna see me on the streets, I'll take an elephant gun to that motha fucka. Second, if you have the balls to throw a bow in someone's face, better be ready to throw down, cuz where I come from, people get they heads blowd off for dat shit dawg. On the rizzle my nizzle, I be crackin busta's heads if they be bumpin dem gums son, know what I sayin? Aaaawwwww yyyyaaaaaa!!!! Oh ya, by the way this whole thing was just to show you how stupid it looks when you can't even use correct grammar when attempting to look smart and make a valid point. So in summary, though I disagree with what you've said, I'll defend to the death you're right to say it. God Bless America Hoe!