Boston Celtics star Rajon Rondo as well as Brooklyn Nets duo Kris Humphries and Gerard Wallace have been ejected from an NBA encounter between the sides following an all-in stoush.
The incident occurred shortly before half-time in the clash which the Nets won 95-83, when Rondo reacted after Celtics centre Kevin Garnett was heavily fouled by Humphries.
Rondo reacted by shoving Humphries into the first row of seats courtside, prompting a melee of players, with three eventually ejected.
Boston coach Doc Rivers said: “Kevin could have gotten hurt. He’s in the air. He took a bad fall. And so Rondo saw that and probably reacted, and overreacted, obviously.
“I can’t get in anybody’s head. But at that point, we’re getting our tails kicked and we’re probably frustrated.”