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Tim MacMahonMar 12, 2025, 09:30 PM ET
- Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009
- Covers the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks
- Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM
HOUSTON — A heavyweight wrestling match broke out Wednesday night at the Toyota Center, resulting in the ejections of a pair of big men: the Houston Rockets‘ Steven Adams and the Phoenix Suns‘ Mason Plumlee.
Adams and Plumlee got tangled up while battling for rebounding position on a made jumper by Houston’s Jalen Green with just over three minutes left in the second quarter. Seconds later, they ended up on the floor with a scrum of players, coach and security staffers around them.
The 6-foot-11, 265-pound Adams and the 6-foot-10, 254-pound Plumlee went chest to chest in the paint after banging for position. Adams put his arms underneath Plumlee’s and marched him backward several steps. Once they reached the top of the key, Plumlee pushed in an attempt to separate.
The Suns’ Mason Plumlee and Houston’s Steven Adams were ejected from Wednesday’s game after a scuffle that ended with both players on the floor late in the second quarter. Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images
Adams appeared to attempt to lift Plumlee off the floor as they wrestled. Plumlee ended up on top of Adams at the bottom of a pile in front of the Suns’ bench as several players, Phoenix assistant coaches and staffers tried to break up the scrap.
After a brief review, referee Tony Brothers announced that the combatants received double technical fouls and were ejected.
Adams received a standing ovation from Rockets fans as he went into the tunnel.
