What was really behind the Devin Booker-Gorgui Dieng fight?

Phoenix Suns Devin Booker and  Minnesota TimberwolvesGorgui Dieng were ejected following an altercation in the third quarter. The question is, what really happened?

In sports, altercations happen and stopping them are inevitable sometimes. Grown men and women get competitive and emotions boil over — all in the name of winning. This is their job, and no one wants to be disrespected.

Perhaps, this was the case between Gorgui Dieng and Devin Booker on Tuesday night. The two had to be separated, and later ejected following an altercation midway through the third quarter. Per ESPN, Dieng elbowed Booker in the face as both attempted to get a loose ball.

After the ejections, it appears both motioned to each other to meet in the tunnel to continue their “conversation.”

Dieng would later sarcastically imply that the two were meeting to exchange jerseys. As if that were believable, anyway.

Whether it was to exchange jerseys or phone numbers, one must wonder what was said to push both players to the brink. No one likes being elbowed in the face, on accident or on purpose. A good guess would be that Booker was not given a great apology or lack thereof.

Or, Booker is possibly frustrated with the state of the Suns and this was a move to let it be known. While Booker is averaging 24.2 points per game, his Suns aren’t holding up as a team. They currently own the worst record in the Western Conference (11-38) and the second-worst in all the NBA. There is plenty of reason to be frustrated, as he’s doing his part scoring-wise but it hasn’t been enough for the win column.

What will perhaps get Booker and Dieng thinking twice before reacting, though, will be the potential fines. Because nobody wins when the checks are shorter.