It’s not often a player gets ejected for plunking his opponent in basketball, but Andrew Nembhard felt a point had to be made on Monday night.
He didn’t do it without cause, however, as Nembhard was retaliating following an ugly hit from Gobert while the Pacers guard was driving to the basket. The French big man swung his elbow and shoulder into Nembhard on the play.
After throwing the ball at Gobert, the Canadian got into the centre’s face and both players had to be separated by teammates. Nembhard was handed a second technical foul, while Gobert was given a Flagrant 2 — meaning both players were ejected following the spat.
The broadcast mentioned that Gobert may have laid his body into Nembhard after he appeared to foul his Timberwolves teammate Mike Conley earlier in the play. However, the play on Conley was not called.
The Aurora, Ont. native would end the night with 12 points, two rebounds and three assists in 19 minutes. He started at the point-guard spot for Indiana with regular starter Tyrese Haliburton out.
Gobert, meanwhile, finished his night with three points, six rebounds and three blocks over 21 minutes of action.