Suns’ Chriss, Dudley fined by NBA for altercation against Utah

Phoenix Suns forwards Marquese Chriss and Jared Dudley have been fined $25,000 by the NBA for their roles in an altercation that occurred on Thursday.

During the Suns’ 116-88 loss to the Utah Jazz, both Chriss and Suns forward Jared Dudley were ejected following a scuffle with Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio.

Midway through the third quarter with Utah up 19, Chriss went up for a dunk, making contact with Jazz big man Rudy Gobert and falling hard to the floor. No fouls were called, giving Utah the ball.

As Rubio made his way to midcourt, Dudley was there to stop the play, shoving Rubio. The point guard retaliated by getting in Dudley’s face, but was immediately shoved to the ground by Chriss, who had gotten up and was running back on defense.

Here is the Marquese Chriss push that got him and Jared Dudley ejected. @utahjazz#TakeNotepic.twitter.com/8ElSYCHM9e

— Dana Greene (@dana_greene) March 16, 2018

After that, chaos ensued as players and coaches from both sides flooded the court.

For their part in the fight, both Chriss and Dudley were ejected and received Flagrant 2 fouls. Utah’s Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles received technicals for their part in the scrum as well.

Following the game, Dudley explained his side of the story, while Chriss remained silent on the issue.

“Thought (Marquese) got fouled, ref gave them the ball while he was on the ground with my other teammate trying to help him up,” Dudley tweeted. “I wanted to stop the fast break (I always do this). The push was a little much but he flopped and sold it. Flagrant 1 or 2 and you move on.”

Chriss now has eight technical fouls — tied for 15th most in the NBA — and one ejection.

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