Washington Wizards guard
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and center
Montrezl Harrell got into a physical altercation at halftime of Tuesday night’s home win over the
Oklahoma City Thunder and their tussle needed to be separated by teammates, sources tell
The Athletic.
Sources said Harrell became upset with Caldwell-Pope for not passing him the basketball on a play before the first half concluded, and the two started jawing during the walk to the locker room. As the two exchanged words, Harrell and Caldwell-Pope took swings toward each other — with neither connecting — and became entangled before teammates separated them, sources said.
By the time players entered the locker room, the altercation had ended. There was increased security presence to ensure the tension did not escalate again.
The Wizards won their second consecutive game and Caldwell-Pope and Harrell were two of the team’s five players in double figures Tuesday night. Caldwell-Pope had 16 points on three 3-pointers, three rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes while Harrell posted 12 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes — and both played the second half.
Caldwell-Pope and Harrell have played on the same team for consecutive years after spending the 2020-21 season with the Lakers. Along with
Kyle Kuzma, they were acquired as part of the Wizards’
five-team blockbuster deal in the offseason that sent
Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers. Washington also added
Spencer Dinwiddie and
Aaron Holiday this offseason in the Westbrook deal.
Kuzma (29 points, five rebounds, three assists) and Dinwiddie (22 points, 10 assists, three rebounds) led the Wizards to the 122-118 victory on Tuesday in the absence of
Bradley Beal due to health and safety protocols.
The Wizards are currently 21-20 and established as a postseason contender this season.
It happens 
