Things got incredibly testy in the middle of Friday night’s game between the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets.
Halfway through the third quarter, Michael Porter Jr of the Nuggets dunked on Zach Collins of the Spurs.
Following that, Porter continued to talk trash to Collins, who then chased him down and bumped into him.
This led to Porter putting his hands on Collins and actually choking him briefly before being pulled away.
The footage, tweeted by Hoop Central and many others, spread across the web quickly.
Michael Porter Jr. and Zach Collins. 😳
(h/t @BradeauxNBA)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 11, 2023
The entire altercation only lasted a few seconds but led to both players being ejected from the game.
NBA fans were all over Twitter talking about the dust-up, with one user joking that he was going to “show my kids this clip of Michael porter jr and Zach Collins 20 years when they tell me LeBron didn’t play in a physical era.”
Gonna show my kids this clip of michael porter jr and Zach Collins 20 years when they tell me lebron didn’t play in a physical era pic.twitter.com/3Ym9PqYnUe
— John (@iam_johnw) March 11, 2023
Others commented on the fact that NBA fans were expecting this sort of situation between Dillon Brooks of the Memphis Grizzlies and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors earlier this week.
Twitter user SportScape said it best: “this is what the media wanted to happen last night between Draymond Green & Dillon Brooks… nope, it was these 2 instead…”
this is what the media wanted to happen last night between Draymond Green & Dillon Brooks… nope, it was these 2 instead…
— Sp🏀rtScape (@sp0rt1llum1n8s) March 11, 2023
Some fans of the Nuggets weren’t happy with Porter’s decision to get physical.
This wasn’t because it got him ejected, but because it could have hurt him.
“MPJ needs to cool it before he throws out his back nuggets need him for the playoffs,” Twitter user Betsey Cashmoney said.
Porter has had injuries in the past that have cost him a lot of time on the court and fans are nervous that he could be out again if he doesn’t watch himself.
MPJ needs to cool it before he throws out his back
nuggets need him for the playoffs 😩
— Betsey Cashmoney (@Betsycashmoney) March 11, 2023
Finally, Christiaan Faul said that Porter should have been more concerned with Spurs head coach Greg Popovich.
Pop slowly approached the fight with his brand of quiet, calm, and intimidating intensity.
If I was Porter, I’d be much more worried about Pop walking at me like this… pic.twitter.com/4jQBnu3tm9
— Christiaan Faul (@ChristiaanPtr) March 11, 2023
Friday night was the last time these two teams meet this season which means that by the time Porter and Collins play against each other again, they will be much calmer.
NEXT: Nikola Jokic Had An Unbelievable Streak End On Friday Night
