NBA WATCH

DALLAS — Rajon Rondo sat out the last 20 minutes of the Dallas Mavericks’ 99-92 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday (yesterday morning, Singapore time) after clashing with coach Rick Carlisle.

Carlisle and Rondo exchanged heated, profanity-laced words with 8min 10secs left in the third quarter, reportedly over play-calling responsibilities, and had to be separated by assistant coach Jamahl Mosley.

“Well, it’s an emotional game, and we had a difference of opinion,” Carlisle was quoted as saying by ESPN. “There was an exchange, and then in my mind, it was over.”

Rondo, declined to comment on the incident, but Dallas owner Mark Cuban attempted to downplay the incident. “S--- happens. Not the first time, not the last time,” Cuban told ESPNDallas.com.

“It’ll happen again. It’s not just Rajon. It’s a long season. In my 15 years, I’ve seen it happen more times than I can count, and we survive every time.”

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott has criticised some of his players who celebrated after their win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday night, reported ESPN.

Scott became aware of the incident — forward Jordan Hill, forward Carlos Boozer and guard Nick Young had reacted boisterously on camera while Jeremy Lin was being interviewed courtside — after watching Monday night’s broadcast of the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show, to which injured Lakers star Kobe Bryant, his studio guest, reacted stone-faced and silent to the clip.

“Kobe’s reaction was pretty much my reaction when I was watching it. I was just shaking my head like ‘I can’t believe this’,” said Scott, who had expected more professionalism from his players. AGENCIES

OTHER RESULTS:

Washington 107 Golden State 114, Detroit 93 Cleveland 102, Oklahoma 105 Indiana 92.

STAT OF THE NIGHT:

6,142 assists — LeBron James becomes the NBA’s most prolific passing forward, surpassing former Chicago star Scottie Pippen’s 6,135.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT:

“S--- happens. Not the first time, not the last time.” — Dallas owner Mark Cuban on the bust-up between coach Rick Carlisle and Rajon Rondo.

TODAY’S GAMES:

Orlando v Miami, Atlanta v Dallas (StarHub TV Ch216, 8.30am), Boston v New York, Chicago v Charlotte, Houston v Clippers, Milwaukee v Philadelphia, Minnesota v Washington, New Orleans v Brooklyn, Denver v Phoenix, Utah v Lakers, Sacramento v Memphis (StarHub TV Ch216, 11am), Portland v San Antonio (StarHub TV Ch202, 11.30am).