What started as a reported rumor Wednesday morning is now confirmed by both ballers in the brawl. Indiana Pacers Lance Stephenson and Evan Turner engaged in a “practice-floor fistfight” the night before the No. 1 seeded Pacers were upset 101-93 in Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks. Turner allegedly had to be dragged from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse practice facility — screaming, cursing and bleeding from his face.
Stephenson (far right, glaring downward) starts at guard for the Pacers. Turner (far left, appearing to be somehow pissing Stephenson off) is a backup small forward. There is unsubstantiated gossip that several Pacers resent Turner because Danny Granger was traded for him.
For whatever reason, Lance Stephenson certainly resented Turner on Friday during the Pacers practice fight the night before their Game 1 loss. Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported the fight early Wednesday morning, and both players have since admitted there was a physical altercation.
“Two Indiana Pacers dragged a cursing, cut Evan Turner out of the Bankers Life Fieldhouse court, untangling him from a practice-floor fistfight with teammate Lance Stephenson,” Wojnarowski writes. “Truth be told, there were probably Pacers willing to let Stephenson and Turner beat the dribble out of each other. Still, Luis Scola and David West finally grabbed an enraged Turner and separated Stephenson.”
Turner has sported two scratches on the side of his neck since the incident. “I got scratched but that was pretty much it, Turner told the Indianapolis Star.
Stephenson also acknowledges the fracas happened, but maintains it was insignificant. “We’re competitive players,” Stephenson told the Star. “We got (into) a little scuffle but it was just practice related. No blows, just playing hard and getting ready for the playoffs. I mean, I’ve got no problem with him.”
Both Stephenson and Turner are free agents once the season ends. If they keep having “little scuffles” in practice, that might not be too far from now.
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