It looked like Thursday night’s Bucks-Grizzlies game would calmly come to a close at BMO Harris Bradley Center, with Milwaukee leading Memphis 96-86 in the final seconds. And then things all of a sudden got crazy with 5.5 seconds left.
Milwaukee’s John Henson emphatically rejected a shot from Memphis’ Matt Barnes, and the two players then exchanged pleasantries, resulting in the officials issuing a double-technical foul.
Well, Henson had already picked up a technical foul in the game, so this second technical foul meant he was officially ejected.
It was originally assumed that Barnes was also ejected, but he was simply substituted out of the game, and after arguing with the refs for about a minute, he went sprinting down the tunnel after Henson.
Here’s video of the bizarre scene:
As our very own Ben Koo noted, “I like how Gus Johnson (Bucks’ play-by-play announcer) seems to know where this is headed the whole time.”
Did Barnes actually end up confronting Henson in the Milwaukee locker room? It doesn’t appear so, but it certainly appears that Barnes tried to:
Several sources said Barnes entered Bucks locker room after game looking for Henson.
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) March 18, 2016
Hearing that Barnes got as far down the hall as the door to the #Bucks‘ locker room but there was no off-court confrontation with anyone.
— Pratik Patel (@PatelESPN) March 18, 2016
Both players were escorted out of the arena by security:
Both Henson and Barnes were escorted from BC by a spate of security guards.
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) March 18, 2016
Heard John Henson was delayed from leaving the Bradley Center. Held at the door until the Grizzlies bus left as a precaution. — Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) March 18, 2016
In case you were wondering, the Bucks eventually defeated the Grizzlies, 96-86. Barnes led Memphis with 20 points. Henson had four blocks for Milwaukee, leading the way for a franchise record 17 blocks in a home game.
[Deadspin]
