Watch: Scuffle breaks out in final seconds of Bulls-Jazz

John Collins. Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Heated altercation breaks out in final seconds of Bulls-Jazz

By Sai Mohan | Last updated Mar 7, 2024 8:34 AM ET

On a night of NBA action that saw the Bucks facing the Warriors, and the Lakers taking on the Kings, all the news coverage — understandably so — went to those marquee match-ups. However, an ugly fracas broke out when Chicago traveled to Utah.

With 9.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Jazz trailing 117-116, they had to resort to intentional fouling to extend the game. Utah guard Collin Sexton did his part by fouling DeMar DeRozan. Immediately thereafter, Sexton and injured Bulls forward Torrey Craig began exchanging words in front of Chicago's bench, causing tempers to flare.

As seen below, things escalated to the point where Jazz forward John Collins grabbed Bulls assistant coach Chris Fleming's neck after a shoving match ensued between them. Upon the referee's review, it was revealed that Fleming initiated contact with Collins, who reacted furiously by reaching for his throat. While Craig was slapped with a technical foul, Collins and Fleming were handed double-technicals.

BULLS-JAZZ GETS CHIPPY IN FINAL MINUTE pic.twitter.com/vJcx15NjGZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 7, 2024

How did John Collins not get ejected???? He literally grabbed a coach’s neck. Are you kidding me?? Bulls got 2 techs Jazz only got one on Collins… pic.twitter.com/sK3ovYCI9I
— BullsMuse (@BullsMuse_) March 7, 2024

After the game, Collins blamed Fleming for escalating the incident, explaining why he didn't warrant receiving a double-technical.

"I ran over [when Sexton and Craig were arguing]. I'm standing there. And the coach comes over and just shoves me for no reason," Collins said. "Y'all can go watch the film — I was just protecting myself. I'm literally just standing there, and the dude puts a forearm in my chest and is pushing me back. So I don't know... he needs some more self-control."

Jazz forward John Collins tells his side of the story from the altercation near the conclusion of tonight’s Bulls-Jazz game.

“I’m standing there and the coach comes over and just shoves me for no reason. Y’all can go watch the film,” Collins said. “I just protected myself.” pic.twitter.com/19T23Zr8iC
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) March 7, 2024

The Bulls-Jazz rivalry hasn't really been a thing since the days of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen squaring off against Karl Malone and John Stockton in back-to-back NBA Finals in the late 1990s. Perhaps Wednesday's skirmish could reignite that old rivalry.

As it stands, neither the Jazz nor the Bulls are guaranteed a playoff berth this year. While the ninth-seeded Bulls (30-32) are bound for the play-in tournament in the East, the 11th-seeded Jazz (28-35) are 5.5 games behind the 10th-seeded Lakers (34-30) in the West.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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