Video: Bulls, Bucks scuffles in Game 2 lead to 7 technical fouls, 1 ejection
You get a technical foul. And you get a technical foul. And you...
Multiple scuffles between members of the Bulls and Bucks during Chicago's 91-82 Game 2 victory on Monday led referees to hand out a total of seven technical fouls and one ejection.
The fireworks kicked off early in the second quarter, when Chicago guard Aaron Brooks stepped in front of Bucks center John Henson as Milwaukee brought the ball up the court. The 7-foot Henson knocked the 6-foot Brooks to the ground, and then briefly stood over him as if to take exception to the play.
Brooks popped up off the court to confront Henson and, shortly thereafter, Joakim Noah and Jimmy Butler entered the fray to stick up for their smaller teammate. Multiple players from both teams then joined the conversation in short order, with Butler and O.J. Mayo jawing back and forth in the center of the group before order was restored.
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The good news: everyone managed to avoid ejection. The bad news: Henson, Noah, Butler and Mayo all received technical fouls. Brooks was only assessed a personal foul for the initial play in transition.
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Chicago and Milwaukee weren't done yet. Shortly after Zaza Pachulia received a technical foul with four minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Bucks center got into an exchange with Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic as both players hit the deck in pursuit of a loose ball. Replays showed Pachulia's elbow connecting with Mirotic, who angrily shoved Pachulia's back. The two players got into a shoving match, while seated, before they could be separated.
Pachulia was hit with his second technical foul, necessitating an automatic ejection, and Mirotic received his first technical, bringing the game's total to seven technical fouls.
Chicago pulled away down the stretch thanks to 31 points from Jimmy Butler. Derrick Rose added 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Khris Middleton paced the Bucks with 22 points and six rebounds. Michael Carter-Williams added 12 points and five rebounds.
The Bulls (No. 3 seed) hold a 2-0 series lead over the Bucks (No. 6 seed) with Game 3 set for Thursday.
