Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn and Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. have been handed suspensions following their involvement in an on-court altercation. The incident, which took place just five seconds into the second quarter of the Rockets’ emphatic 147-119 victory over the Jazz, has led to Dunn receiving a two-game suspension, while Smith Jr. will sit out for one game.
The NBA announced the suspensions on Sunday, pinpointing Dunn as the instigator of the altercation. Dunn’s actions, which included initiating the fight and throwing a punch at Smith, earned him a two-game ban from the league.
On the other hand, Smith Jr. was suspended for one game for his role in the scuffle. Following the incident, both players were slapped with technical fouls and ejected from the match, marking a premature end to their participation in the game.
Kris Dunn, in his eighth season in the NBA and currently at 30 years old, will begin his suspension on Monday when the Jazz are set to face the Dallas Mavericks. He will also miss a subsequent game at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Jabari Smith Jr., a 20-year-old rising talent and the son of a former NBA forward, is slated to serve his suspension during Monday’s game, where the Rockets will go up against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Smith Jr. has been a significant contributor to the Rockets this season, averaging 13.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. His performance has been crucial for a Houston team that, with a 35-35 record, is currently chasing a spot in the Western Conference play-in, trailing the Golden State Warriors by 1.5 games.
Dunn, on the other hand, has averaged 5.3 points, 3.9 assists, and 2.8 rebounds across the season for the Jazz. Utah finds itself in a more challenging position, standing at 29-42 and eight games behind the 10th-place Warriors, making their path to the playoffs increasingly difficult.
The suspensions underline the NBA’s commitment to maintaining discipline and sportsmanship on the court. As both players serve their respective bans, their teams will have to adjust and strategize without their presence.
