Sports

NBA Disciplines Nets Security Guard In Durant-Tucker Game 3 Skirmish

June 13, 2021 / 10:22 AM EDT / CBS New York

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MILWAUKEE (CBSNewYork/AP) — The NBA has disciplined the Brooklyn Nets security guard who went onto the court at Fiserv Forum and appeared to shove P.J. Tucker during a confrontation between the Milwaukee Bucks forward and Nets star Kevin Durant on Thursday night.

NBA officials said the security guard would not be assigned to any of the remaining games in Milwaukee during the second-round playoff series between the Bucks and Nets. He won't be assigned to the court area for the second-round games in Brooklyn.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 10: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets and P.J. Tucker #17 of the Milwaukee Bucks exchange words during the second half of Game Three of the Eastern Conference second round playoff series at the Fiserv Forum on June 10, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Although NBA officials didn't provide the name of the security guard, a person with knowledge of the situation identified him as Antjuan Lambert. Another person with knowledge of the situation said the security guard was Durant's personal security guy before being hired by the Nets.

The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because those details weren't announced. The Athletic first reported Lambert's name.

The situation stems from an incident that occurred in the third quarter of the Bucks' 86-83 Game 3 victory.

Tucker appeared to be complaining after getting called for fouling Durant. Tucker and Durant then started jawing at each other as they got face to face. The security guard went on the court during this confrontation and put his hands on Tucker.

Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said Saturday that he wasn't aware of the Bucks contacting the league to look into the matter, but he added that he didn't think it would be right for a security guard to put his hands on a player.

"If it's a Nets security guy and he's bumping our player and things like that, it doesn't seem like that's the protocol, and that's kind of what we would expect from any type of security, whether it be Bucks or Nets or Fiserv or Barclay's Center or wherever you may be playing," Budenholzer said. "I don't think you want to bump and escalate things."

The Nets lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Milwaukee.