Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and fourth-year center Alperen Sengun were ejected late in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s 120-111 NBA Cup loss to the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center, and third-year forward Tari Eason reportedly went after a Kings fan in the stands after the defeat.
Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason attempted to confront a heckling Sacramento Kings fan in the stands
According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, as Eason left the court and walked through the tunnel near the visitor’s locker room, he heard a heckle from a nearby fan and threw his towel in response while yelling obscenities toward the fan.
Eason then attempted to enter the stands, running up the ramp that leads to the lower concourse at Golden 1 Center and nearly reaching the fan section, when nearby security officials were able to hold him back.
NEWS: In the wake of an already-emotional Houston Rockets loss, third-year forward Tari Eason had to be held back from running after a heckling fan in the stands, @sam_amick reports.
Details: https://t.co/Ehzt9itPPr pic.twitter.com/x3XislV8Ph
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 4, 2024
The LSU product was held from behind by one official and from the front by another who jumped over a nearby railing to impede his path, relented after a few moments and headed for the locker room.
An NBA spokesperson said Wednesday the league is aware of the incident and is reviewing the situation. The Rockets were not immediately available for comment, per Amick. However, there is no video footage of the incident available on either X or YouTube.
Coach Ime Udoka was displeased by a no-call after Sengun drove to the rim late in the fourth quarter
With 1:52 remaining, Udoka was irked by a no-call after Sengun drove to the rim. In fact, he repeatedly pursued referee John Goble at midcourt and was assessed the two technical fouls that resulted in his ejection.
A frustrated Udoka gave reporters an earful after the loss.
“Blatant missed calls right in front of you,” he said when asked about his reaction. “They’re calling ticky-tack moving screens, and bulls—t like that, and then you don’t want to call the obvious ones right in front of you, so that was it. Alpie got fouled a few times on that drive, and on the layup, and they don’t want to call it.”
A look at how Ime Udoka was ejected, along with Alperin Sengun. This chippy game ends with a frustrated Rockets team falling to the Kings tonight as Mike Brown unloads his bench. pic.twitter.com/uFcmDTnylR
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) December 4, 2024
“I told him, ‘Get some f—king glasses. Open your eyes,” Udoka added. “Take your sensitivity and emotions out of it and call the game the right way. It’s obvious right in front of you, and John Goble — or whoever it was — sees it, doesn’t call it. … I let him know about it.”
Houston had won three straight and 10 of 12 games before falling short in its NBA Cup matchup with Sacramento. The Rockets continue their West Coast trip at Golden State on Thursday and at the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
