Report: Lowry and Simmons get into altercation in hallway after ejections
What a return.
After missing three straight games due to injury, Kyle Lowry had a noticeable return to the Raptors’ lineup on Monday.
Playing in his hometown, he scored 13 points, adding seven rebounds and four assists. But his night ended early when he and 76ers rookie Ben Simmons were ejected after a war of words near the end of the game.
The heated conversation started after a Raptors’ made-basket with less than seven seconds on the clock.
Lowry was tired of Simmons BS rightttt around here. #RTZ #NBA pic.twitter.com/gKbzSaCuxZ
— Marshall Ferguson (@TSN_Marsh) January 15, 2018
Simmons reached towards Lowry, appearing to trip or undercut him in the process of grabbing the basketball as the Raptors point guard conveniently blocked his path.
Lowry took offence, and after a subsequent foul to stop the clock, he and Simmons engaged in a heated discussion. After the free-throws were made, Lowry wasted no time to get into Simmons’ face, which led to the two being ejected from the game.
As they were leaving the court, Simmons appeared to gesture to Lowry to meet him in the back – with Lowry eagerly sprinting towards the exit.
Looked like Simmons suggested he and Lowry should continue their 'conversation' in the tunnel after both were ejected. Lowry (paraphrasing) said let's go and sprinted to the back.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 15, 2018
Philadelphia sports reporter Jon Johnson reported that an altercation occurred between the pair.
Hearing there was an altercation between Simmons and Lowry in the hallway
— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) January 15, 2018
As you might expect, everyone is denying it.
Simmons denies anything happened with Lowry. Said, “it’s nothing “.
— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) January 15, 2018
RE: rumors about Simmons and Lowry getting into it in the tunnel:
The Sixers came out and denied it. But FWIW, postgame availability for the players, typically held in the locker room, was held in the conference room due to what they said was a leak in the locker room.
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) January 15, 2018
Ben Simmons says there was no altercation with Kyle Lowry after the game pic.twitter.com/bA8ko0ASmA
— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) January 15, 2018
Lowry on Simmons incident: “I don’t know. I guess he thinks he’s somebody.”
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) January 15, 2018
*Update: Lowry was willing, but Simmons didn’t oblige.
Kyle Lowry tried to pursue Ben Simmons after the pair were ejected from today's game, per a source. I'm told Simmons went straight to the locker room; never made contact with Lowry.
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) January 15, 2018