Grizzlies’ Brooks suspended, Cavs’ Mitchell fined for altercation

The NBA on Friday suspended the Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks for a game and fined Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell $20,000 for their role in an altercation that resulted in both being banned from Thursday night’s game in Cleveland.

Midway through the third quarter of Cleveland’s 128-113 win, Brooks rolled into Mitchell’s leg, swung his hand up and hit Mitchell in the groin.

In response, Mitchell threw the ball back at Brooks and jabbed him. Ultimately, Brooks received a flagrant foul 2, which ejected him, while Mitchell received a technical error as he was also ejected.

“That’s just who he is,” Mitchell told reporters after Thursday’s game. “We saw it a lot on this team with him. He and I have had our personal struggles over the years.

“There’s no place in the game for that. This has been brewing with me and other guys in the league for years. You all see it. That’s not new.”

Brooks will not play the Toronto Raptors at home on Sunday. Cleveland’s next game is Sunday against the Indiana Pacers.