Fouls are a normal part of the game of basketball. However, not all fouls are equal as some cause greater damage. Likewise, the NBA punishes players differently for such kinds of fouls. On the same lines, in the matchup of Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets, De’Aaron Fox took a block a bit too far off.
The Rockets are one of the worst teams in the NBA this season (as they were in the previous). However, they have potential with a young and hungry roster on their side. And they were on show tonight as they beat the Kings in a close fight. Interestingly, the Rockets did get some help when with the Kings falling short of Fox.
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The guard almost cloth lined Rockets’ Garrison Mathews and received appropriate punishment.
De’Aaron Fox turns the NBA into wrestling
In an open break for the Rockets, Mathews took the ball to the coast. He went up to finish with a dunk, but Fox decided to contest the shot. However, his contest went a bit too high as he got a good part of Mathews’ head as he fell right on in his. Mathews stayed down in pain for a while before getting up.
Later, Fox was issued a flagrant 2 and was immediately ejected from the game.
While it didn’t look like an intentional foul in any sense, the referees had no other choice. Not only was the foul on the head, but it had a severe impact on the player as well. Hence, it didn’t qualify for a normal shooting foul and Fox had to receive the appropriate penalty. Despite all this, the Rockets pulled through and got themselves a win against an upcoming Kings team.
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The Rockets put up an all round performance to beat the Kings by a margin of 6 points. Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood both scored 23 points in the win. Eric Gordon added 15 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Off the bench, Garrison Mathews delivered scoring 17 points in just 23 minutes. Consequently, the Rockets improved to 13-32 for the season.
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For the Kings, no starter could really get it going on the night. Terence Davis topped the starters with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals to his name. Harrison Barnes and Metu combined for 26 points as well. Buddy Hield provided the much needed offense with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals on 55% shooting from three. However, it did not prove enough for the Kings as they suffered their 28th loss of the season.
Do you think it was an intentional foul by Fox? Let us know in the comments below.