Tempers flared at the end of Wednesday’s game between the Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls, as a scuffle involving members of both teams escalated after Jazz forward John Collins appeared to reach for the neck of Bulls assistant coach Chris Fleming on the sideline.
With under 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Bulls leading 117-116, players from both teams exchanged words and shoves near the Bulls bench after a foul call. As the scuffle unfolded, Collins and other Jazz players approached the sideline. Fleming, from the bench, appeared to step in and put his hand across Collins’ chest.
Jazz forward John Collins tells his side of the story from the altercation near the conclusion of tonight’s Bulls-Jazz game.
“I’m standing there and the coach comes over and just shoves me for no reason. Y’all can go watch the film,” Collins said. “I just protected myself.” pic.twitter.com/19T23Zr8iC
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) March 7, 2024
Collins then appeared to reach near Fleming’s throat, escalating matters more, before being restrained and separated by multiple players as others piled into the crowd.
“I’m standing there and the coach comes over and just shoves me for no reason,” Collins said about the incident. “Y’all can go watch the film. I just protected myself.”
This will be updated.
(Photo: Alex Goodlett / Getty Images)
