Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. and Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn are facing suspension after engaging in a brief altercation during their recent game on Saturday night, according to an announcement from the league on Sunday.

Dunn has been suspended without pay for two games, meaning he will miss the Jazz's upcoming matchups against the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs, Yahoo! Sports reports.

On the other hand, Smith has been suspended for one game, causing him to sit out the Rockets' game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.

The altercation occurred early in the second quarter at the Toyota Center in Houston.

While the Rockets were advancing the ball down the court, Dunn threw a punch aimed at Smith's head.

In response, Smith retaliated with a swing of his own. However, both punches were mostly missed, and they were separated by teammates and officials shortly after.

The scuffle resulted in immediate ejections for both players from the game.

Smith, who didn't address reporters afterward, had scored five points before his ejection.

Meanwhile, Dunn managed to get two points in six minutes before being tossed.

Jabari Smith Jr., a 20-year-old player drafted by the Rockets with the third overall pick in 2022 from Auburn, has been showcasing a career-high performance this season, averaging 13.3 points and 8.5 rebounds.

Kris Dunn, 30, in his second season with the Jazz, has been averaging 5.3 points and 3.9 assists per game.

Despite the incident, the Rockets secured a convincing 147-119 victory over the Jazz, extending their winning streak to eight games. This streak has brought them within 1.5 games of the final play-in spot in the competitive Western Conference.

Conversely, the loss marked the fifth consecutive defeat for the struggling Jazz, who now trail the Rockets by 7.5 games in the standings.

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Heated Altercation Leads to Suspensions

The tension escalated between Jabari Smith Jr. and Kris Dunn as the second quarter commenced on Saturday. Both players exchanged swings, resulting in their immediate ejection from the game.

Dunn later explained that the altercation began with a verbal exchange and escalated quickly, leading to their ejections.

The NBA responded swiftly, handing Kris Dunn a two-game suspension for initiating the altercation and throwing a punch, while Smith received a one-game suspension for his involvement in the fight.

The timing of Smith's suspension is significant for the Rockets, who have been on a remarkable run, winning nine of their last ten games, bringing them to .500 and within striking distance of the playoffs, according to CBS Sports.

Notable Performances Fuel Rockets' Victory

In the absence of Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green stepped up for the Rockets, nearly matching his career-high in points with an impressive 41-point performance. Green showcased his scoring prowess, shooting 63.6% from beyond the arc and 68.1% overall.

Fred VanVleet and Jeff Green also made substantial contributions to Houston's offensive firepower, combining 55 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, and two steals.

The Rockets' recent victory extends their winning streak to eight games, positioning them favorably as they prepare to face the Portland Trail Blazers, SportsKeeda noted.

With their sights set on overtaking the Golden State Warriors for the coveted 10th seed in the Western Conference, the Rockets remain focused on securing a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Meanwhile, the Jazz's woes continued as they suffered another defeat, dropping their record to 29-42 for the season.

Currently holding the ninth-worst record in the NBA, the Jazz faces an uphill battle in their quest for postseason contention.

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Written by: Ross Key

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