The NBA announced Thursday that Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks has been suspended for Saturday’s Game 3 against the Warriors for his Flagrant 2 foul on Warriors guard Gary Payton II in Game 2.
Brooks has been the recipient of harsh criticism for the foul, which resulted in a fractured left elbow for Payton when he landed hard on the floor. The foul occurred about three minutes into Tuesday night’s contest, when Brooks swiped at Payton’s head while he was going up for a layup attempt. Payton tried to brace himself on the fall but ended up injuring his shooting arm.
Following the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr blasted Brooks and called it a "dirty" play that broke the NBA's unwritten code. Stephen A. Smith joined 95.7 The Game Wednesday and said Brooks’ foul merited a suspension. Heck, even Brooks’ teammate Brandon Clarke said the foul was “way too hard.”
When Brooks returns for Game 4, he is sure to hear an earful from the crowd at Chase Center in San Francisco. Payton had worked himself into a fan favorite over the past year with his hustle, energy, defense and efficient offense. He also has strong Bay Area ties due to his Hall of Fame father from Oakland.
The foul on Payton will probably remain a stain on the rest of the career for the 26-year-old Brooks. Kerr said the Warriors won’t retaliate on Brooks, but he’s sure to add some more spice to the intense series upon his return.
