Russell Westbrook, P.J. Washington ejected in chippy Mavs win

DALLAS — A few heated confrontations throughout the fourth quarter of the Dallas Mavericks’ 101-90 Recreation 3 win over the LA Clippers on Friday evening resulted in a pair of ejections and a lift to P.J. Washington’s native recognition.

Washington, the facility ahead acquired by the Mavericks on the commerce deadline, was ejected together with Clippers guard Russell Westbrook with 6:10 remaining.

That confrontation started with Westbrook fouling Mavs celebrity Luka Doncic by grabbing his proper arm from behind and yanking on it, pulling Doncic backward. When Doncic approached Westbrook to object, Westbrook shoved him along with his left arm. Washington and Westbrook then exchanged shoves earlier than different gamers, coaches, officers and safety prevented the skirmish from escalating.

“At all times obtained to guard 77 in any respect prices,” Washington informed ESPN. “So I imply clearly it was a tough foul after which he pushed him afterwards, so I used to be proper there and I simply needed to step into it.”

Westbrook, who completed with 1 level on 0-of-7 capturing in 19 minutes, was referred to as for 2 technical fouls and ejected from a playoff recreation for the primary time in his profession. He exited the American Airways Heart with out talking to the media.

“You bought to maintain your composure,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue stated. “It will get chippy within the playoffs and everybody needs to play effectively and do effectively, however you bought to maintain up composure regardless of how the calls go. So we obtained to be higher than that down the stretch in the case of that.”

Washington, who had 10 factors, 5 rebounds and three steals within the win, was additionally ejected after being whistled for his second technical foul. His first got here after a confrontation with Clippers guard Terance Mann with 10:24 remaining within the fourth quarter.

In that occasion, Washington struck an immediately iconic pose within the midst of gamers pushing and shoving, crossing his arms and staring on the Clippers bench.

“[Mann] was mad that I used to be their bench, so I made a decision to take a look at it once more,” Washington informed ESPN. “Simply coming in and attempting to set a tone.”

As Washington posed in exaggerated style, Doncic stood subsequent to him and smiled with delight. Washington saved a stone face.

“I needed to get my flicks proper for after the sport,” Washington stated with a smile, referring to the second as a photograph alternative.

Doncic, who had 22 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists regardless of describing his proper knee as “actually stiff” after injuring it late within the first quarter, expressed appreciation for Washington’s willingness to function an enforcer.

“Superb,” Doncic stated. “The issues he does, he is a staff participant. He helps all of us. I am simply actually completely happy we have got him on our staff.”

Westbrook was additionally referred to as for a flagrant 1 foul for hitting Dallas wing Josh Inexperienced within the head throughout a fast-break dunk try with 8:37 remaining within the second quarter. He had a post-whistle brush of Doncic reviewed within the closing minute of the primary half, however the officers decided that incident did not advantage any punishment.

“I am used to that,” Doncic stated of being subjected to additional physicality. “I simply attempt to keep calm and preserve enjoying basketball.”

After the Mavs referred to as themselves out for an absence of physicality of their Recreation 1 loss, they’ve held the Clippers to 93 and 90 factors up to now two video games to take a 2-1 collection lead. Dallas coach Jason Kidd considers the friction that emerged within the fourth quarter to be typical for a bodily collection.

“We’re all competing for every inch to attempt to win,” Kidd stated. “This collection goes to be extra psychological because it goes on, simply due to the physicality. It’s totally bodily, however the psychological side of this collection, we’ve got to be sharp and we’ve got to know what’s going down. I believed the blokes did an excellent job of defending each other.”

ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk contributed to this report.