DALLAS — With emotions from the Luka Doncic trade still raw, multiple fans were ejected in the second half of the Dallas Mavericks' 129-128 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Monday at the American Airlines Center due to violations of the NBA's code of conduct, according to a team spokesperson.
Each instance prompted boos from the crowd. Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont, whose family purchased the majority share of the franchise from Mark Cuban last season, also was loudly booed when he returned to his courtside seat with 2:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Two of the fans held large poster board signs that read, «FIRE NICO» — a reference to Dallas general manager Nico Harrison. One of those men was seen mouthing «fire Nico» on the arena video screens earlier in the game before the camera quickly panned out.
«In the first incident, the guest brought in a sign that broke the following rule included in the NBA Code of Conduct: Clothing, garments or signs displaying explicit language, profanity or derogatory characterization towards any person(s),» Mavericks vice president of corporate communications Erin Finegold said in a statement released to reporters.
Harrison has been subjected to harsh backlash since agreeing Feb. 2 to the shocking blockbuster deal that was built around sending five-time first-team All-NBA selection Doncic, 25, to the Los Angeles Lakers and bringing 10-time All-Star big man Anthony Davis, 31, to Dallas.
Approximately 1,000 people protested outside the American Airlines Center before Saturday's home win over the Houston Rockets. «Fire Nico» and «sell the team» were common themes for chants and T-shirts.
Harrison, who did not attend Saturday's game, was in the arena Monday night but did not sit in his
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