Bucks' Bobby Portis ejected after slapping Pacers' Andrew Nembhard in first quarter

INDIANAPOLIS – The Milwaukee Bucks needed Bobby Portis in a big way Sunday night, with stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard sidelined with injuries and the Bucks down 2-1.

Unfortunately, Portis was ejected less than seven minutes into the Bucks' 126-113 loss on Sunday after first shoving Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard and then slapping Nembhard in the head when the Pacers guard lunged forward.

Portis was restrained by Bucks security as the players were separated.

"The emotions got the best of him this situation," Khris Middleton said. "I thought for the most part of the year he's done a great job flirting with that line and not crossing over it. Tonight, it just crossed over at the worst time for us."

Then it was reviewed and Portis was assessed two technical fouls for hostile acts. The first was the shove, and the second was for the slap and contact to the head of Nembhard.

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said the play happened too quickly for him to know what happened but acknowledged Portis' removal hurt the team.

"There's no doubt about that," Rivers said. "We'd loved it if he stayed out there. But I really don't have any comment because I didn't see the play."

Nembhard was also assessed a technical foul for his role in the altercation. It was the third technical of the series for the Pacers guard, who had previous run-ins with Damian Lillard.

"It was obviously tough," Brook Lopez said of Portis' ejection. "I didn't really see what happened. I saw a bit of the replay. But, you know, it was unfortunate. I'm not sure they started anything, but it went the way it did. I'm just proud of the way our guys stuck with it. A lot of people stepped up tonight and played great through the vast majority of the game."

Upon being ejected, Portis was derisively jeered by Pacers fans. He was not in the locker room when it opened for media postgame.

At the time of the altercation, Middleton had just been fouled and the Bucks were trailing 17-16. Tyrese Haliburton then made a technical free throw to extend the Pacers lead. During the break when the play was reviewed, Middleton spoke briefly with Portis before sitting down on the bench.

"Down two of your best players and then you're down one of your best players that's been playing off the bench all year long and now is in a starting role, we need him," Middleton said. "It's unfortunate what happened. But I thought we competed the rest of the game. Even though he went out, guys stepped up. Andre, he played a hell of a game. AJ (Green). (Malik Beasley) 'Beas. Pat (Connaughton). Jae (Crowder). 'Gallo.' They all came in and gave valuable minutes."

Rookie guard Andre Jackson Jr. replaced Portis in the short term, and then 6-foot, 10-inch veteran Danilo Gallinari was worked into the rotation for 13 minutes. Gallinari joined the team as a free agent after the all-star break.

The Bucks were able to steady the ship after the ejection, tying the game at 33 going into the second quarter. Earlier in the period Indiana's Pascal Siakam and Milwaukee's Pat Beverley were assessed technical fouls for taunting after baskets.

"I think the first quarter it was a tie game," Beverley said. "I think we came out and did what we were supposed to do."

The Bucks now trail the Pacers 3-1 as the series returns to Milwaukee where Portis will once again be counted to help his team avoid elimination.

"It was a tough break for us, there's no doubt about it," Rivers said. "It doesn't matter how long you're in the league, you can still learn. All of us can. I thought it would probably be a lesson for Bobby. All of us. For all our young guys. Playoff games are high emotion. They really are. So that happened, and you can't get it back once it happened."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks' Bobby Portis ejected after slapping Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard