C.J. Paul, brother of Houston Rockets All-Star point guard Chris Paul, was briefly ejected from last night's game after reportedly being mistaken for another person.
According to ESPN, C.J. Paul said referee James Williams accused him of making inappropriate comments, which resulted in arena security briefly removing him from his seat. However, as security escorted him past the Rockets' bench toward the exit, Chris Paul objected and his brother was soon allowed to return to his seat.
"The ref was crazy," C.J. Paul told ESPN as he walked out of Vivint Smart Home Arena with his brother, parents and others. "He had the wrong man. It wasn't me."
“The guy next to me called (referee James Williams) a (expletive), but they thought it was me,” C.J., who played collegiately at Hampton University and University of South Carolina-Upstate, told USA TODAY Sports. “The thing is, I know James. He reffed me in college. But (the security guard) comes up to me, and says ‘Hey, we need to talk to you in the back.' I said, 'for what?' I told them what happened. I don’t talk like that.”
Chris Paul added, "I saw he was trying to put my brother out. That's out, that's out. There might not be many playoff games I've played in, but he's been at all of them. That's out. Nuh-uh, don't put him out."
Williams later whistled CP3 for a technical with 20.8 seconds remaining, which Paul said was because he complained about an offensive foul. According to Paul, he had only said: "That's awful."
Paul, who celebrated his 33rd birthday yesterday, finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in the Rockets' 100-87 victory. He is now one win away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in his NBA career.