SAN FRANCISCO — No fines, no suspensions, not even a slap on the wrist.
But coach Billy Donovan still wanted his coaching staff and players to learn some serious lessons on how to control their in-game frustration, especially with what’s on the line for the Bulls down the stretch.
With nine seconds left in the game Wednesday, the Jazz fouled DeMar DeRozan right next to the Bulls’ bench. Torrey Craig thought the foul was “excessive” and claimed that ‘‘dang!’’ was all he said to Collin Sexton.
That’s possible, but the fact that Craig was in street clothes, still nursing a right knee injury, didn’t sit well, and Sexton and John Collins had words back. The temperature turned up, and Bulls assistant coach Chris Fleming reached out to calm things, putting his hands on Collins.
Collins grabbed at Fleming, bodies started pushing each other and technicals were handed out.
That’s where it ended, however, as Donovan said the league was not taking any further action.
“I spoke to our front office a little bit about it, just in terms of the league,” Donovan said. “I reached out to someone in the league — I don’t want to say who — and had a conversation about it. It was an unfortunate situation, and I didn’t get all the different camera angles. Chris was trying to defuse the situation, and it ultimately escalated. That’s the unfortunate part.
“But I think it’s a lesson for us that we just have to worry about controlling our bench and our guys. I think that was a really good learning experience because I don’t think Chris’ intentions were to ever be physical. It was trying to keep everybody separated.”
Craig tried to dismiss the entire episode.
“I just think [Sexton] fouled DeMar excessively, hit him in the face,” Craig said. “I literally just said, ‘Dang!’ And he started talking, and it escalated, but it was nothing serious.”
The return
Discussing the incident from the night before wasn’t ideal for Craig, especially on the day that he was finally coming back from the sprained right knee he suffered during the All-Star break.
The athletic forward made his return against the Warriors but was on a strict minutes restriction.
It was the second injury for Craig this season, and that’s what seemed to irritate him the most.
“I understand that injuries are part of the game, but it just sucks because I pride myself on not missing games, not missing a lot of games, and, in a way, you feel like you’re letting your brothers down, letting your team down by not being available,” Craig said. “But I’ve been working hard to get back, and I’m excited I can be out there.”
There was a little bit of mystery on how Craig suffered the injury, but he said he was just doing a normal workout, and his leg slipped from underneath him.
“It just happens; it is what it is,” Craig said.
“Freak accident, but that’s what happens when you just try to stay in the flow. Unfortunate things happen.”
Back in town
Reserve guard Dalen Terry missed the game against the Jazz for personal reasons, but he returned from Arizona in time for the game against Golden State. Terry has been used off the bench depending on matchups.
