One of the most bizarre NBA ejections in recent memory took place last night. During the game between the Denver Nuggets and the Indiana Pacers. In the game, Austin Rivers was being guarded by the ball, maneuvering his hands. Rivers almost hit Stephenson in the face, after which Stephenson pretended that Rivers made contact, which led to Rivers getting ejected from the game for foul play.
Rivers was not happy with the ejection, taking to Twitter to respond to the incident. He noted that this has never happened to him and that he wanted the NBA to take a look at it. On Instagram, Lance Stephenson responded to him by saying that it was a dangerous move, and while Rivers didn’t hit him, he could have. Stephenson noted that it wasn’t personal between the two.
Austin Rivers took to Twitter after his ejection 😅 https://t.co/XGHJ9aiHQf
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 31, 2022
Austin Rivers: “Never in my life have I been thrown out (of the) game for something so ridiculous. Seriously… Never. League gotta look at this one.”
Lance Stephenson: “You know what you did you try to hit me. Both going hard trying to win the game. Nothing personal. Y’all say this a flop but when was it acceptable to attempt a throw a elbow at someone. Both was going hard trying to win the game. Rivers lost control with that one. I got out there and play hard never attempt to hurt anyone. Nothing personal but that’s how they going to guard him in the playoffs.”
Rivers is clearly not happy with the decision, but Stephenson was not going to hear accusations of flopping from Rivers and fans. Austin Rivers was not the only one unhappy with the ejection. Kevin Durant took to Twitter to slam the decision from the referees to eject Rivers for something he didn’t even do. It was a polarizing decision from the referees.
Stephenson, who made his return to the NBA for the first time in a few years, signed a deal with the Pacers for the end of the season. The Pacers are not a playoff team this year, so Stephenson has the rest of the season to convince the Pacers to offer him a deal to stay with the franchise in the long run.
