Dillon Brooks had his best game as a Phoenix Sun — and then it ended in disaster. The forward was ejected with 8:05 left in the third quarter of Friday’s 127-120 loss to the Denver Nuggets after kicking Jamal Murray in the groin, an act officials upgraded to a Flagrant 2 foul and an automatic ejection.
The ejection came in the Suns’ NBA Cup opener at Mortgage Matchup Center, with Phoenix trailing 84-76 at the time. Without Brooks, the Suns fell to their second straight loss and sixth straight to Denver in the series.
Dillon Brooks (Credits: Phoenix Suns / AP)
Dillon Brooks Ejected for Flagrant 2 Kick on Jamal Murray
The incident came on a turnaround jumper with Murray guarding tightly. As Brooks fell backward, he kicked his right leg forward and made contact with Murray’s groin. Brooks was initially called for an offensive foul while Murray writhed on the court for several moments — but after a video review, the crew upgraded the call to a Flagrant 2, deeming it unnecessary and excessive.
The cruelty of the timing: Brooks was leading the Suns with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including four three-pointers and 20 first-half points — a season high. Murray got up, stayed in the game, and then torched Phoenix for 39 points and seven threes, including 28 after halftime.
Jamal Murray’s 39 Points Sink the Suns in NBA Cup Opener
Murray wasn’t the only problem: Christian Braun added 29 points with a career-high seven threes as Denver opened NBA Cup play with a flurry. The Nuggets stretched the lead to 103-90 in the third on a Nikola Jokic jumper, and although Phoenix clawed back within six, Murray’s two free throws with 13.4 seconds left sealed it at 127-120.
The Suns face a quick turnaround Saturday, while the Nuggets continue NBA Cup group play on top of West Group A.
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Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
