Duke Brotherhood Playoff Watch: 76ers, Grizzlies Fall

In Duke Brotherhood Playoff action Monday night, Quin Snyder’s Utah Jazz took a 3-1 lead over Memphis, winning 120-113, while Philadelphia was surprised by Washington, 122-114.

For Memphis, Grayson Allen had eight points and Tyus Jones played but did not score.

For Philadelphia, Seth Curry had 10 points.

No one should hold out much hope for comebacks. Utah and Philly will almost certainly win the series.

In Washington, one fan attempted to rush the court but was intercepted by security and slammed to the floor. He’s been banned from the arena and charged with the appropriate crimes.

This follows ugly fan behavior where a Knicks fan spit on Atlanta’s Trae Young, racist language aimed at Ja Morant’s family and popcorn dumped on Russell Westbrook. What’s happening?

Well we think two things.

First, we’ve gone through a period where civil behavior, broadly speaking, has broken down. There’s no particular reason why it wouldn't break down at sporting events as well, nor should it be shocking when it does. It’ll go on until the people demand that it doesn’t.

That doesn’t mean the players shouldn’t be upset and alarmed; of course they should. They’re the targets. Anyone would be upset. Who wouldn’t be? If a player went after a miscreant and beat him and we were on that panel, we’d be strongly attempted to argue for jury nullification. If you are stupid enough to pick a fight with a professional athlete, well, pay your own damned medical bills, idiot, and find something else to do. Leave the rest of us the hell alone.

And second, it’s the first time in over a year that people have been allowed back in arenas which is part of a bigger thing, which is that the pandemic is (hopefully) winding down.

When the Black Plague finally burned out for the last time in Europe, people ventured out again and began to live, shall we say, with gusto. Life after the plague was a big freaking party for some time, and why not? You lived through an epic disaster, life is sweet again, there is wine and attractive potential partners to drink it with. You’re going to go home and contemplate what you’ve just been through? Seriously?

No. You’re going to squeeze every drop out of life that you can. Furthermore, you should.

That’s going to happen again. Pairing it with the breakdown in civil behavior is frightening but the reality is it’s summer, people who have been cooped up for over a year are going to exult in their regained freedom, and there is going to be a lot of misbehaving for a long time to come. We will have to come to terms with the dangerous aspects of that carnival, but there will be no escaping it.

On Tuesday, Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets will try to close out Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics while Austin Rivers and the Denver Nuggets will take on Harry Giles and the Portland Trail Blazers with that series tied 2-2.

• Utah Jazz beat Memphis Grizzlies 120-113, take 3-1 series lead
• Game 4 preview: Jazz need to contain the offensive glass and stop relying on Rudy Gobert
• Utah Jazz come through when it matters again, Chris Paul shows his mettle and other NBA playoff takeaways
• What’s happened to our civility?
• Utah Jazz-Memphis Grizzlies buzz: Ribbing Dillon Brooks
• Celtics legend blasts Kyrie Irving for controversial ‘stomping’ incident
• Fan douses Knicks rookie with beer, gets banned from MSG