The Miami Heat's franchise-record 15th straight victory was marred by a fourth-quarter altercation between Ray Allen and Minnesota's J.J. Barea, which led to an ejection and plenty of jawing.
With the Heat leading 76-70, Allen tried backing Barea down on the perimeter. The Heat veteran appeared to push the diminutive T-Wolves guard to get some separation. When Allen drove to the basket, Barea went right back at him, knocking him to the ground. A foul was called but one of the NBA TV announcers called it "a semi-flop by Ray Allen."
Allen got up and tried to confront Barea, only to be held back by Dwyane Wade and a couple of officials. Barea was charged with a flagrant foul type 2, which results in an ejection. As Barea walked off the court, he and Allen continued to jaw at each other.
Both did plenty of talking about the incident after Miami's 97-81 victory as well.
"I thought it was a bush league move by Barea," Allen said in a postgame interview on NBA TV. "I don't care who you are in the league. You know, you got to defend yourself. So you know, you just play the game the right way and that's what I have tried to do in my career. He got ejected, I think, for due purpose. So we just move on from it."