Kevin Garnett ejected after headbutt

ByMIKE MAZZEO
January 12, 2015, 8:28 PM

— -- NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets power forward Kevin Garnett was ejected from Monday night's game against the Houston Rockets after headbutting center Dwight Howard during their fight in the first quarter.

With 7:53 remaining, Garnett and Howard got tangled up as Howard was trying to catch a lob pass in the paint. Garnett pushed Howard, and Howard pushed back.

Garnett then threw the ball at Howard, got in his face, and headbutted him. Garnett added a push, and Howard responded by throwing a hand that hit Garnett in the neck. The two were then separated.

Multiple players and security personnel tried to hold Garnett back, but he attempted to go back after Howard.

After the officials reviewed the play, Garnett received a personal foul, both players received technical fouls and Garnett was ejected. Garnett may face additional discipline from the NBA for his actions.

Howard was booed by the Barclays Center crowd each time he touched the ball after the fight.

Howard spoke glowingly about Garnett before the game. Both players were drafted out of high school and became superstars.

"I mean, part of the reason I have the number that I have (No. 12) is because of him (Garnett used to wear No. 21)," Howard told ESPN.com. "I wanted to be just like him coming out of high school. When I was in high school I think I went to see him play one time, and it's just crazy because you watch the game, you don't see nothing special sometimes, but he'll end up with 25 (points) and 15 (rebounds). He's always been that intense guy that's gonna bring it every day at practice, and he really loves the game. And you can tell with his energy and effort. I think this is what, year 19? And he's still playing with the same intensity as year one."

Howard said Garnett is the best trash talker he's ever played against.

"Every time I play him he's always talking trash," Howard said. "He'll have you so upset by the end of the game. ... Most of the time, he's just talking to himself, but you just think he's talking to you, so it's crazy."

Howard said his favorite Garnett moment was the two of them jostling during the playoffs when Howard with in Orlando and Garnett was in Boston.

"I was hitting him in the stomach and squeezing his stomach, and he kept turning around and hitting me," Howard said. "So I kept doing it just to mess with him. And I didn't feel what he was doing -- like he was hitting me -- but I never felt it. So I just kept doing it, and then he did it, and then we kinda got into it. I was kinda like, 'What you gonna do about it?' Like it was crazy back-and-forth, but it's just fun trash talking. I'll never forget that."

Howard fondly recalled how Garnett reacted during the game after Garnett's friend and mentor, Malik Sealy, died in a car accident in 2000.

"He caught a rebound and dunked it in real hard and he pointed up to the sky," Howard said.