Multiple players ejected from Houston-Chicago game after flagrant foul turns into chippy on-court scuffle

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An on-court scuffle during the Chicago Bulls-Houston Rockets game on Thursday night involving multiple players resulted in star players DeMar DeRozan and Dillon Brooks both being ejected. Houston ultimately won the game, 127-117.

The clash took place in the third quarter, with 6:02 remaining and the Rockets leading 84-75. As Houston's Jalen Green was carrying the ball up the court, Chicago's DeRozan came off a screen and hip-checked him, sending Green to the court in evident agony.

Houston's Brooks took exception to what the refs later determined to be a flagrant foul and immediately approached DeRozan. As DeRozan turned to face Brooks, DeRozan elbowed him in the chin, exacerbating the feud, and other teammates almost immediately joined in. Team staff and security also attempted to intervene.

Upon review, the initial foul by DeRozan was ruled a flagrant foul 2 and he was ejected. Brooks was given a technical foul for instigating the conflict and was subsequently ejected.

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DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against Dillon Brooks #9 of the Houston Rockets in the second half at Toyota Center on March 21, 2024 in Houston, Texas.   (Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Both team coaches addressed the conflict after the game.

"I think there was some contact on some drives, some fouls, previous calls that were not called," Bulls interim coach Billy Donovan said. "Obviously, DeMar jumped off of that screen and fouled Green."

"I don’t think DeMar’s intention was to get a flagrant 2, certainly it was fouling and of course flagrant 1 and they’re