ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NFL.com | NBA.com | NHL.com | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | FANTASY | INSIDER

  Scores
  Schedule
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries
  Players
  Message Board
  Power Rankings
  NBA StatSearch
  NBA en espaņol
Clubhouses






Tuesday, March 13, 2001
McGrady contends Jackson initiated incident



ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando's Tracy McGrady and Sacramento's Bobby Jackson were ejected after a fight during the Kings' 114-108 overtime victory over the Magic on Tuesday night.

After the Magic, trailing by two points, called timeout with 35.1 seconds remaining, McGrady raised up the ball to shoot, but Jackson slapped at the ball and hit his wrist.

McGrady then bounced the ball off Jackson's head, and Jackson followed by shoving McGrady with both hands in the chest. McGrady immediately tackled Jackson, and the two began to wrestle on the floor before teammates, coaches and officials could break up the fight.

"I was just turning around to shoot the ball and he snatched it out of the air," said McGrady, who led Orlando with 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. "I threw the ball at him because the play was dead."

"He threw the ball and it hit me in the face," said Jackson. "I don't know who he thinks I am, but I won't stand for that. He got a little carried away. I won't take that from anybody."

During the melee that followed, Sacramento's Vlade Divac and Hidayet Turkoglu were seen leaving the bench and heading onto the floor. The pair face possible suspensions. NBA rules mandate a suspension for any player who leaves the bench area during a fight on the court.

Orlando spokesman Joel Glass said no Magic players left the bench.

After Jackson and McGrady were separated, Jackson was being led up a tunnel at T.D. Waterhouse Centre when a fan threw a cup of liquid at him. Jackson tried to go into the stands and find the fan, but he was stopped by security guards.

"I may have been wrong, but don't go and throw beer on me," said Jackson, who had eight points. "I tried to go find the guy in the stands, but they wouldn't let me."

McGrady, the NBA's seventh-leading scorer with 27.7 average, said he was unconcerned about the likelihood of a suspension.

"Whatever they give me, I'll take it, but I definitely don't deserve it," said McGrady, who was suspended for a game for an altercation with Philadelphia's Eric Snow in the first week of the season. "I didn't throw a punch, I didn't throw the first blow."

Said Jackson: "I'm sure I'll get suspended, but I wasn't about to let him step on me."

Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
ALSO SEE
McGrady scuffle mars end of Kings' OT win over Magic




ESPN.com:  HELP |  ADVERTISER INFO |  CONTACT US |  TOOLS |  SITE MAP
Copyright ©2001 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.