It didn’t take long for sparks to fly in Nets-Rockets.
With 7:53 left in the first quarter, Nets forward Kevin Garnett and Rockets center Dwight Howard got into a scuffle, resulting in Garnett’s ejection and one technical assessed to Howard.
Howard and Garnett first got into it as soon as the whistle was blown, with Garnett giving Howard a push, and Howard responding with a push and by saying “f— off” to Garnett. In retaliation, Garnett threw the ball at Howard’s back and headbutted him in the jaw. Howard then swiped at Garnett, and the two had to be restrained for an extended period as the two coaching staffs struggled to maintain order.