Brooklyn Nets beat Boston Celtics 95-83 in an Eastern Conference clash to claim their ninth win in the 11 games on Wednesday night, but the victory was marred by three players being ejected after a brawl broke out between both teams in the second quarter.
Rajon Rondo shoved Nets forward Kris Humphries, after Humphries made a hard foul on Kevin Garnett near the baseline.
That led to a min-brawl, where Humphries, Rondo and Brooklyn's Gerald Wallace ended up being ejected - Wallace was given a second technical.
"All that stuff, that's not toughness," the Associated Press quoted Boston coach Doc Rivers as saying. "That foul was a hard foul. It was an unnecessary foul.
"The play was over and then he pushed him down in the air. But I think that's what they think of us: They think they can push you around."
For the Nets, Joe Johnson scored 18 points and six assists, Andray Blatche added 17 points and 13 rebounds and Jerry Stackhouse also contributed with 17 points.
The Nets ensured an early advantage in the game, when they took an eight point lead in the first quarter. They enhanced their lead and at the end of the first half they were leading by 21 points. Brooklyn strengthened their position further after the Celtics' Rondo was ejected.
For the Celtics, Garnett scored 16 points and chipped in with 10 rebounds while Paul Pierce added 14 points. Forward/Center Brandon Bass also contributed with 16 points.
Rondo had added three assists before leaving the field. His expulsion from the game meant, his 37 games streak of double-digit assists remained tied for second with John Stockton. Magic Johnson is the record holder with 42 straight games of ten assists or more .
The Nets were dominating the game, scoring 19 of the first 25 points in the second quarter to take the lead to 47-26.
They Cewltics were trailing by 16 points when Garnett fell on the floor following Humphries' hard foul and a skirmish broke out. Coaches of both the team and the NBA officials tried to stop the brawl.
"I think guys just try to defend themselves," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. "I think the league should really take that into account. Because I don't know if guys can just walk away all the time. They've got to kind of protect themselves."
The referees declared two technical fouls for Humphries, one for Wallace and one for Garnett. Rondo was ejected.
"Rondo initiated everything that proceeded after the foul," crew chief James Capers said in a pool report provided to reporters. "And when he and Humphries go into the stands, they are involved in a fight. Fighting is an automatic ejection."
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