We know that NBA Playoff series can get chippy, but what PJ Tucker did on Sunday in Utah as the Jazz hosted the Houston Rockets was something well beyond that.
Late in the second quarter, Joe Ingles received a pass behind the arc and was setting up to shoot. Then Tucker, who was fooled by the pump fake, swung his arm and raked Ingles right across the middle of the face.
Joe Ingles hit in the face by PJ Tucker on the close out. pic.twitter.com/nq41VXn4DQ
— RealGM (@RealGM) May 7, 2018
It was hardly surprising when the officials determined that foul was worthy of a Flagrant 1.
Hopefully Tucker’s poor judgement doesn’t lead to some reciprocity later on in this series. And thankfully Ingles was able to shake off the blow without any apparent long-term effect.