Following a multi-player brawl, Milwaukee Bucks big-man Brook Lopez was ejected during the club’s 130-122 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
Watch as Brook Lopez was seemingly ejected for removing Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr.’s headband during the scuffle.
Brook Lopez got ejected for taking Gary Trent Jr.'s headband 😅 pic.twitter.com/a57IJRBfvj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 18, 2023
Following the game, Bucks reporter Zoe’s Stephenson caught up with the Defensive Player of The Year contender to collect his thoughts on the altercation.
“I don’t know. I can’t expect the refs to get it right; if they’re not going to get it right during the game, why are they going to get it right when they replay it during other calls, you know?” Lopez posited in his post-game comments. “It is what it is. I make mistakes; you make mistakes, and they make mistakes too. They made mistakes tonight, and it is what it is; they’re human, they’re fallible, and even with the help of replay, they still have a tough time. So, it’s cool; it is what it is.”
Brook Lopez spoke with @ZoraStephenson after his first career ejection. #FearTheDeer | #Bucks pic.twitter.com/lwkBBqZEet
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) January 18, 2023
With 6:40 remaining in the game, Bucks guard Jrue Holiday scored, and Brook Lopez was tangled up with Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. under the basket. Trent kept his arms wrapped around Lopez well after Holiday’s bucket, and Lopez didn’t take it lightly and snagged Trent Jr.’s headband off of his head, which ignited a scuffle between several players on the baseline. After a heated exchange between Lopez and Raptors forward OG Anunoby, Lopez was assessed a pair of technical fouls and was sent to the locker room by officials after scoring 19 points in 29 minutes on the floor.
Brook Lopez is playing the best defensive ball of the year. Lopez is swatting away 2.5 blocks per game to go along with his 14.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game.
The Bucks once again find themselves as one of the best teams in the NBA as Tuesday night’s victory over the Raptors was the club’s second straight win, both without former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, as the 28-year-old continues to work his way back following what’s being called ‘knee soreness.’ However, Brook Lopez and co. have the Bucks currently seated second in the Eastern Conference with a 29-16 record, four games behind the Boston Celtics, who are pacing not only the East but the entire NBA with a 33-12 record heading into Wednesday night’s action.
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