Pool Report on the Double Technical Fouls Issued to Houston’s Dillon Brooks and Portland’s Anfernee Simons, and Technical Foul and Ejection of Houston’s Fred VanVleet in the fourth quarter of tonight’s Portland at Houston game.

The Pool Report interview was conducted by Jonathan Feigen (Houston Chronicle) with Crew Chief Courtney Kirkland following tonight’s Trail Blazers at Rockets game. 

Saturday, November 23

QUESTION: Why was a technical foul assessed to just Brooks and Simons?

KIRKLAND: Simons escalated the situation and then Brooks responded in a very aggressive manner and that’s why those were the only two players issued technical fouls.

QUESTION: So nothing on the original confrontation following the foul?

KIRKLAND: No. Nothing on the original confrontation. Players got in each other’s faces, but nothing transpired from there.

QUESTION: In the last minute, there was no call on the attempted 3-point field goal right before the technical foul. What was the ruling there where that contact didn’t constitute a foul?

KIRKLAND: In live action, we felt that the defender stayed directly on the path of VanVleet during his attempted motion toward the basket. After video review, we see the defender did close space and did make contact with the hip of VanVleet and a foul should have been called. However, shots would not have been awarded on the play.

QUESTION: What led to the technical foul shortly after that play?

KIRKLAND: VanVleet was ejected on one technical foul for his vulgar language and pointing at all three officials.