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 21-20 and established as a postseason contender this season. Caldwell-Pope has started 38 games, averaging 11.6 points and shooting 38.9 percent from 3-point range. Harrell has appeared in 34 games with three starts, averaging 14.4 points (third on the team) and 7.3 rebounds (second).
(Photos of Harrell and Caldwell-Pope: Jonathan Bachman / Contributor)
