What happened
Stephon Castle and Deni Avdija received double technical fouls at the end of Spurs-Blazers Game 4 after a hard foul by Avdija on Castle, with Castle retaliating by putting the ball into Avdija's chest. The incident capped a tense sequence highlighted by reactions on social media. This follows Avdija's recent tooth injury from an elbow strike in prior action against the Spurs.
Why it matters
The clash intensifies the playoff rivalry between the young Spurs and Blazers cores. It risks NBA discipline like fines or suspensions that could impact series momentum. Such incidents test composure in high-stakes postseason play.
What to watch
Monitor league pool report for potential ejections, fines or suspensions ahead of Game 5.