Clippers’ Patrick Beverley ejected for knocking out opponent’s tooth and throwing ball at a fan

Fiery Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley was ejected from Sunday’s loss in Dallas after knocking out a portion of Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr.’s tooth and throwing a ball at a local fan who allegedly told the veteran, ‘f***your mother.’ 

That spectator was Don Knobler, the flamboyant Mavericks fan known around the league for talking trash to visiting opponents from his front-row seat in Dallas. 

‘”F*** [your] mother” twice,’ Beverley said, as quoted by Adam Greif of the Los Angeles Times. ‘I’ve never heard “f***your mother.” Never. There’s only so much you can stand for. I can accept “f**** you and f-you Pat Beverley,” I can accept that. I’m a grown man. But, you know, you bring family into it—especially in a basketball game—it’s only so much you can tolerate as a man.’ 

Beverley also claimed that Knobler gave him the finger.  

  

Dallas Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr. (1) fights for the ball with Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley (21) on Sunday. Smith lost a tooth on the play, but had it reinserted soon after 

Beverley throws a ball at Mavericks fan Don Knobler on Sunday, leading to his ejection 

Beverley throws a ball at Mavericks fan Don Knobler on Sunday, leading to his ejection 

Smith's missing incisor was replaced afterwards, which suggests it wasn't a permanent  tooth

Smith’s missing incisor was replaced afterwards, which suggests it wasn’t a permanent  tooth

While going after a loose ball, Beverley's elbow hit Smith's face, knocking out a tooth (circled) 

While going after a loose ball, Beverley’s elbow hit Smith’s face, knocking out a tooth (circled) 

Smith and Beverley were involved in separate loose-ball scrambles in the third and fourth quarters, both resulting in jump balls but having ramifications beyond the plays themselves.

In the first sequence, Beverley appeared to elbow Smith in the mouth, causing Smith to lose part of a tooth. Smith left the game briefly for medical attention, only after winning the jump ball. He was interviewed postgame with the tooth appearing intact, telling reporters that it was ‘magic.’

Then the two wrestled on the floor for another loose ball in the fourth quarter, and after Beverley got up holding the ball, he threw it into the stands, earning a technical foul and an ejection. 

He said after the game that Knobler uttered the expletive about his mother.

‘Anybody that knows me knows that I’m a family first guy and some things are just unacceptable,’ Beverley said. ‘If no one is going to control fans, what are we supposed to do as players? I’m a grown man, but when you bring family into it, especially in a basketball game, there’s only so much you can tolerate as a man.’ 

Clippers coach Doc Rivers was asked about Beverley’s technical: ‘I told him it’s the life we live and you got to turn the other cheek even though I know it’s hard, but we can’t get technicals. We just have to walk away and then the league has to take care of stuff like that.’

The man who allegedly cursed at Patrick Beverley was Don Knobler, the flamboyant Mavericks fan known around the league for talking trash to visiting opponents from his front-row seat

The man who allegedly cursed at Patrick Beverley was Don Knobler, the flamboyant Mavericks fan known around the league for talking trash to visiting opponents from his front-row seat

Although he didn't throw it hard, Patrick Beverley was clearly irritated when he tossed the ball at Mavericks fan Don Knobler, who was perched in his usual front-row seat along the baseline

Mavericks fan Don Knobler allegedly said 'f*** your mother' to Patrick Beverley

Although he didn’t throw it hard, Patrick Beverley was clearly irritated when he tossed the ball at Mavericks fan Don Knobler, who was perched in his usual front-row seat along the baseline 

Named to the 2016-17 NBA All-Defensive First Team, Beverley has made a career of blanketing the league’s top point guards. The Arkansas product began his career in the Ukraine and Greece, but now makes $5.7 million a year as one of the NBA’s premiere defensive stoppers. 

He even has his own summer camp, Camp Lockdown, that teaches young players the finer points of playing defense. 

Earlier this season, Bevereley’s long-running feud with Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook boiled over after the two collided and nearly came to blows during a game. Local police were actually needed to keep the peace on the floor during a timeout soon after.

On a similar play during the 2013 playoffs, Westbrook tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee during when Beverley, then playing for the Houston Rockets, lunged for the ball as Westbrook prepared to call timeout. 

Westbrook missed the rest of the playoffs and part of the next season. In March 2014, the first time the two played again, Beverley swiped the ball away from Westbrook after a timeout and drew a technical, and Beverley and Westbrook had to be separated. 

Don Knobler of Dallas, Texas wears shamrock glasses in the spirit of St. Patrick's day before a game between the Detroit Pistons and the Dallas Mavericks on March 17, 2009 at American Airlines Center in Dallas

Mavericks season ticket holder and huge fan Don Knobler dresses up in checkered suit and top hat for an NBA game between the Portland Trailblazers and the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX Dallas defeated Portland 84-81 on January 4, 2011

Don Knobler allegedly gave Patrick Beverley the finger, the Clippers guard claimed Sunday 

Knobler has become well-known around the NBA for talking trash from his front-row seat 

Knobler has become well-known around the NBA for talking trash from his front-row seat 



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