Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul confronted a fan being ejected for putting hands on his family during the Suns’ 111-101 game four loss to the Dallas Mavericks, which evened up the Western Conference semi final series at 2-2.
On Mother’s Day in the US, a fuming Paul was held back by security after a fan allegedly got physical with his mum and wife in the stands in Dallas.
READ MORE: Teen prodigy buries Zverev in ‘absolute disgrace’
READ MORE: Simple reason ‘killed’ Penrith’s unbeaten run
READ MORE: Andrew Bogut says Liz Cambage’s remarks were ‘beyond despicable’
According to ESPN, Paul’s mother, Robin, had hands put on her by unknown people around her and Paul’s wife, Jada, was pushed.
The 37-year-old point guard was seen talking to security guards about his mother after the game while other vision showed him yelling: “I’ll see you later” at the fan.
Video on social media shows a young fan being removed from the arena, though it is not known if this is the fan who allegedly got physical with Paul’s family.
The seething playmaker, who faces a possible fine over the incident, even took to social media after the game to express his disgust over rules that forbid players from going back at fans for going too far.
“Wanna fine players for saying stuff to the fans but the fans can put they hands on our families….f— that!!” Paul wrote on Twitter.
It’s understood Paul’s children witnessed the alleged incident and they “felt very unsafe.”
“The Dallas Mavericks are aware of an incident between a fan and the family of Chris Paul,” the Mavericks said in a statement.
“It was unacceptable behaviour and will not be tolerated. The Mavericks, along with American Airlines Center, swiftly removed the fan from today’s game.”
Paul had a tough night on the court and was out of game four early in the fourth quarter due to foul trouble, the period when he often dominated the Mavericks during an 11-game winning streak that ended with consecutive home victories for Dallas.
Luka Doncic scored 26 points and the Dallas Mavericks took advantage of Paul’s foul trouble, with the Slovenian star getting plenty of help from Dorian Finney-Smith, who scored a playoff career-high 24 points on the most 3-pointers he’s had, regular season or playoffs. He was eight of 12 from deep, including consecutive 3s for a 14-point lead midway through the fourth.
Dallas matched its record of 20 3 pointers (20 of 44) from a Mother’s Day rout of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011, a win that completed on a four-game sweep in the second round on the way to the championship. The Mavericks are playing beyond the first round for the first time since then.
Devin Booker scored 35 points for the Suns, who dropped two straight on road with a 2-0 lead just as they did in last year’s NBA Finals. Milwaukee won the last four to take the title. Top-seeded Phoenix lost consecutive games for the first time in the playoffs.
76ERS 116, HEAT 108
James Harden scored 31 points, Joel Embiid had 24 points and 11 rebounds and Philadelphia beat Miami in game four to even the Eastern Conference semi final series.
The Heat won the first two games in Miami with Embiid out with a right orbital fracture and mild concussion. The 76ers won Games three and four at home with Embiid and his mask in the lineup. Game five is in Miami.
The Heat pecked away at the lead and got within five until Harden sank his fifth 3-pointer of the game with three minutes left. Harden crushed the Heat on catch-and-shoot 3s and hit one clutch shot after another in the fourth.
Jimmy Butler scored 40 points for Miami.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!