The Phoenix Suns might have handled business with a 122-106 win over the Sacramento Kings, but let’s be real—Mason Plumlee stole the headlines. Not for what he did on the court, but for the fact that he didn’t even make it to halftime.

Midway through the second quarter, Plumlee threw a sharp elbow at Domantas Sabonis while battling for a rebound. The refs wasted no time. After reviewing the play, they upgraded his foul to a Flagrant 2, sending him straight to the locker room.

Now, here’s where things get even crazier—this wasn’t just a one-time lapse in judgment. Just a few days ago, he found himself at the center of another ejection-worthy altercation, this time with Houston Rockets big man Steven Adams. Adams, never one to back down, met him with the same intensity.

Back-to-back ejections? That’s never a good look.

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By the time Plumlee walked off the court, blood dripped from a cut above his eye. “He goes for every rebound, and he does it whether it’s dirty or not,” Plumlee said after that game. “I just felt like they were being more physical than us, so I made a point to hit him on the glass.”

That wasn’t just an offhand comment. It revealed exactly where his mindset was.

Unfortunately, the NBA doesn’t take kindly to players who make a habit of crossing the line, and repeat offenses almost always lead to serious consequences. A fine seems inevitable. A suspension? That’s a real possibility. Now, the league has a decision to make—how hard will they come down on him?

Will the league drop the hammer?

When a player racks up multiple Flagrant 2 fouls in such a short span, the league pays attention. And when those fouls put other players at risk, punishments start getting steeper. By default, a Flagrant 2 carries a $2,000 fine. But when someone starts gaining a reputation for reckless play, suspensions often follow. The league isn’t just looking at what Plumlee did last night—they’re seeing a pattern.

And let’s be honest—Sabonis was in a vulnerable position when that elbow landed. That’s exactly the kind of play that pushes the NBA toward a suspension. For the Suns, this couldn’t come at a worse time. With the playoff race tightening up, losing a key rotation player could be costly.

But if last night proved anything, it’s that Phoenix knows how to adjust. Despite Plumlee’s early exit, they torched the Kings from deep, shooting an insane 55.8% from three and coming within one shot of a new franchise record.

Tyus Jones stepped up big, sinking six threes on his way to a 20-point night. Devin Booker balanced scoring with playmaking, dropping 22 points while dishing out 13 assists.

And then there was rookie center Oso Ighodaro. With Plumlee gone, the Suns needed someone to fill those minutes in the paint, and Ighodaro answered the call. In 32 minutes, he put up 11 points, grabbed six rebounds, and held his own in a high-pressure moment.

Now, all eyes are on the NBA’s disciplinary office. If a suspension comes down, the Suns’ frontcourt depth will face a serious test. And for Plumlee, the question becomes clear—how much of his physicality is helping, and how much is hurting?