The Nets hosted the Cavaliers at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and tensions were high between Ben Simmons and Jarrett Allen.
Cleveland maintained a slight lead, 59-51, over Brooklyn at the end of the first half. But shortly after the second half started, just seconds into the third quarter, Simmons and Allen became tangled up.
The former No. 1 pick surprisingly shoved the Cleveland big man to the floor. Allen (who used to play for Brooklyn) quickly retaliated by charging at Simmons as his teammates, including Donovan Mitchell, attempted to hold him back.
14 seconds into the 2nd half, Ben Simmons and Jarrett Allen are involved in an altercation.#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/qvXebnpOAh
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) February 9, 2024
This is not the first that Allen and Simmons have had beef in the middle of an NBA game.
The two players also saw tempers rise during a game last season as well.
The altercation this season led to both players receiving technical fouls.
But it was Allen who got the last laugh because Cleveland then went on a massive 21-0 run against Brooklyn. The eight-point lead before the skirmish was suddenly a blowout as the Cavs found themselves ahead, 80-51.
Cleveland (34-16) currently has sole possession of the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They will host the Nets on March 10 at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.
