It's the dog days of the NBA season, and players' tempers appear short.
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet was ejected from his team's game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday after a hard foul against Canadian Oshae Brissett.
With the Rockets down four points against the struggling 76ers in the fourth quarter, VanVleet hoisted a three-pointer that was summarily rejected by Brissett, the native of Mississauga, Ont.
Brissett leaked out and was fed the ball on the fast break. VanVleet caught up to him under the basket and handed him an NHL-style bodycheck, leading to his ejection.
The Rockets are in a three-way tie for second in the Western Conference at 43-25 and could ill afford to lose to the injury-ravaged 76ers.
VanVleet, the former Raptor, watched from the locker room as his team forced overtime.
He was at least the third player ejected on Monday. Canada's Andrew Nembhard, the Indiana Pacers guard, and Minnesota's Rudy Gobert were also tossed after a scuffle of their own.
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