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Iman Shumpert came to the Portland Trail Blazers locker room wanting to “have a conversation” with center Jusuf Nurkic following Portland’s loss to the Sacramento Kings on Monday night. A hard first-quarter screen by Nurkic started the ill feelings, which apparently did not end after the final horn. Blazers’ security refused Shumpert access and the tension ebbed, but the extra excitement did not go unnoticed by Portland media.
NBC Sports Northwest tweeted video of the play in question:
Nurk levels Shumpert, CJ lays it home STREAM https://t.co/XdLRBENPFZ #ripcity pic.twitter.com/zLVcy4qTs2
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) January 15, 2019
Several media members conveyed the postgame drama.
Iman Shumpert standing outside of the Blazers locker room waiting...
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) January 15, 2019
Iman Shumpert was outside the Blazers locker room. Wanted to “have a conversation” with Jusuf Nurkic. Was not allowed in by team security #ripcity
— Peter Socotch (@PSocotchNBCS) January 15, 2019
Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee had some of the in-game action:
Shumpert is trading words with Rick Riley, a member of Portland's team security staff, who stood up during the initial exchange. Shump made a 3 and came back pointing at Riley. Timeout Portland. Shump comes back down the floor jawing at him again.
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) January 15, 2019
UPDATE: Shump is on the bench now. When Buddy hit a corner 3, Shump stood up and gestured toward the Portland bench at Riley, who sat there sneering back at him.
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) January 15, 2019
Even Head Coach Terry Stotts got mixed up in it.
The event apparently ended without incident. The Blazers and Kings face each other once more this season, on April 10th...the 82nd and final game of the year.