Donovan Mitchell reacts to scuffle with Dillon Brooks / News - Basketnews.com

Donovan Mitchell believes Dylon Brooks is a dirty player, and the Memphis Grizzlies forward should receive further punishment.

Credit: USA Sports Today-Scanpix Credit USA Sports Today-Scanpix

Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell reacted to the scuffle with Dillon Brooks, claiming that the Memphis Grizzlies forward is a dirty player.

Player of the Game EFF 31 Darius Garland Points 32 Accuracy 11-19 Rebounds 2 Assists 11

Mitchell and Brooks were ejected after the incident in the third quarter. Mitchell was tossed after throwing the ball at Brooks after the players tangled under the basket, while Brooks was called for a flagrant 2 foul and was also ejected following the fracas with 5:48 left and the Cavs leading 81-76.

After missing a shot and falling in the foul lane, Brooks flung his arm back and struck Mitchell, who was standing over him, in the groin area.

Mitchell dropped in pain and retaliated by throwing the ball at Brooks and then charging and shoving him along the baseline in front of the Memphis bench.

After the game finished, Mitchell said that NBA should take action.

"That's just who he is,'' Mitchell said. "We've seen it a bunch in this league with him. Him and I have had our personal battles for years.

"There's no place for that in the game. This has been brewing for years with me and other guys in the league. You all see it. This isn't new."

It's possible the league could punish Brooks further, and Mitchell believes additional penalties are warranted.

"There should be something," he said. "This isn't just a Donovan thing. This has happened to other players throughout this league, and it's bulls--- if I'm being honest with you. It's complete bulls---. It's one thing, you know, you got Ja, you got Bane, you got Jaren Jackson. Those guys, they talk s---, and that's fine, that's all a part of basketball. We all grew up playing that way.

"But when you start doing little cheap s---, that ain't it. That's where my frustration lies. It's not about talking back and forth. That's cool, but when you start doing little stuff like that, what are we really doing?"

Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff felt Mitchell, who said he has had previous run-ins with Brooks, had every right to defend himself.

"That was a cheap shot in multiple ways," he said. "A guy should have the right to stand up for himself. I thought Donovan did that. I'm proud of our guys. We don't have those guys that start s---, but we have guys who don't run from s---, and you have to in this league.

"You have to stand up for yourself. That's what he did, and his teammates had his back."

Brooks refused to discuss the altercation with Mitchell in any detail. When he was asked about the exchange, Memphis All-StarJa Morantstepped in and said the Grizzlies would not talk about the incident.

Brooks did say he agreed with the flagrant 2 call.

"It saved me some T's," he said, referring to technical fouls.

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