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    Cleveland Cavaliers’ Tristan Thompson ejected after slapping butt of Memphis Grizzlies’ Jae Crowder

    What’s going on in Ohio?

    Cleveland Cavaliers’ forward Tristan Thompson took a page right from the playbook of Odell Beckham Jr. Friday night when he slapped the butt of Memphis Grizzlies’ Jae Crowder as he attempted to sub out.

    With just over two minutes left in the third quarter, Crowder passed Thompson at the foul line on his way to the bench when the 6-foot 9-inch power forward smacked Crowder on the backside.

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    Thompson was ejected after drawing his second technical of the game.

    Officiating crew chief Ken Mauer told a pool reporter that the ejection was for “the physical taunt, slap to the backside” and had nothing to do with the double-technicals both players were assessed early on in the game.

    Crowder didn’t appear to take the jest too seriously as he just stood next to Thompson, stunned.

    Thompson appeared to clear the air saying after the game that it was just a natural reaction between two former teammates. Both men played for the Cavs during the 2017-2018 season.

    “So, we have a history, and it was just a little competitive spirit,” he explained. “They might have taken it the wrong way because they may have forgotten we were teammates.”

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    Thompson said he would “definitely [be] calling (the Players Association) to appeal that.” The Grizzlies went on to defeat the Cavs 113-109, marking their seventh straight win.

    In a less amusing situation, an arrest warrant for Cleveland Browns’ wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was issued Thursday after he was seen slapping the backside of a security guard in the LSU Tigers locker room following the national championship game days earlier.

    The Browns have said Beckham was cooperating with authorities on the issue.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    Cavs coach Beilein says he apologized for ‘thugs’ comment

    John Beilein’s first season as an NBA coach took another turbulent turn because of a comment he made during a film session.

    Beilein said Thursday he had apologized after using the word “thugs” while reviewing film with his players the previous day. ESPN.com, citing unidentified sources, reported that Beilein suggested during a Wednesday film session his players were no longer playing “like a bunch of thugs.” Beilein told ESPN he had meant to say “slugs” in reference to the team’s effort level.

    Beilein repeated that explanation Thursday after his team’s shootaround in Detroit, hours before the Cavaliers faced the Pistons.

    “I was saying: ‘We’re making a lot of mistakes mentally, and we deserve better because we’re really playing hard right now. We’re not playing like slugs. We’re playing hard,'” Beilein said. “And somehow that word came out.”

    Beilein said he called the players afterward to explain the situation, and said he apologized.

    “There was really positive reinforcement from the guys this morning and last night. Very understanding, but it’s something that certainly they understand that it was serious,” Beilein said. “Something that shouldn’t have happened.”

    The rebuilding Cavaliers made a bold move when they hired Beilein, who had never coached in the NBA and turns 67 next month. He was highly regarded at the college level for his offensive acumen and his ability to develop players.

    Beilein left his job at Michigan to take over the Cavaliers before this season, but he’s off to a rocky start. Cleveland was 10-27 entering Thursday’s game, and there have been hints of dysfunction along the way.

    About a month ago, a report in The Athletic cited unidentified players saying that Beilein was being tuned out. More recently, star forward Kevin Love had a verbal exchange with general manager Koby Altman. Love also threw up his arms in disgust several times while on the floor. Love later said he was “acting like a 13-year-old.”

    Love said Thursday he didn’t think there was malice behind Beilein’s comments, and forward Larry Nance Jr. echoed that sentiment.

    “He made a mistake. We all make them, but he apologized, owned up to it, and it this point, that’s all we can ask him to do,” Nance said. “We all heard it, we were all there. But at the same time, I don’t think there’s any player on the team that believes there was mal-intent behind it.”

    The word “thug” is considered problematic in part because of the way it’s been used to describe black athletes over the years. Football star Richard Sherman once said he felt the word was like “an accepted way of calling someone the N-word.”

    Nance said Beilein’s comments didn’t immediately sink in.

    “It wasn’t one of those things that like, ‘How dare you?’” Nance said. “At second glance, yes. We realized he was wrong, he realized he was wrong. That’s why he doubled back afterward, but at the time it happened, it didn’t catch me right away.”

    Other Cleveland players indicated they would talk to reporters after the game was over.

    Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kevin Love lets frustrations boil over during game vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

    Kevin Love’s frustrations with the Cleveland Cavaliers appeared to have boiled over Saturday night during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

    As the first half was winding down, Love was calling for the ball while being guarded by Thunder point guard Chris Paul. Love never got the ball and decided to meet point guard Collin Sexton, who was attempting to dribble out the clock. Love got the ball near midcourt and fired a laser pass to Cedi Osman, who fired up a hasty shot as the shot clock was expiring and was fouled.

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    It was clear there was something wrong. Love explained his thinking talking to reporters after the game, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

    “I think you’re talking about the play with Chris Paul on me. Yeah, I felt we were making a play call and at the end of the [first] half we were in the bonus and I had Chris Paul on me,” Love said. “Felt swing it to me and try to throw it in the post, see if they double-team me and get a shot out of that, but that’s not what we did. Yeah, I was frustrated.”

    Love finished with 12 points and three rebounds on 4-of-10 shooting. But Love’s frustration with the team appeared to have come to a tipping point and cast a shadow over the team’s 121-106 loss.

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    According to multiple reports, Love got into a verbal altercation with Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman over what the forward believed was an unfair $1,000 fine he received for his outburst on the bench in Thursday night’s loss against the Toronto Raptors.

    Love screamed at Altman in front of Cavaliers players and personnel, according to The Athletic. A similar altercation reportedly took place last season which ended with Love telling Altman he has “plenty of money” to use on fines.

    Love responded to the reports of the alleged altercation in an Instagram post, defending his love for his teammates.

    “A lot of non truths being shared…but I’ve learned that we live in a world where people remember accusations and not rebuttals. Let them paint whatever picture they want. Fact is — I love my teammates,” he captioned the photo.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    Cleveland is 10-25 this season and Love has been the talk of trade rumors.

    Tristan Thompson defends Cavaliers coach John Beilein from detractors: ‘I’ll pull up on ’em right now’

    Tristan Thompson is ready to defend coach John Beilein from all detractors even if it’s coming from his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates.

    Thompson was asked Friday about a report that anonymous Cavaliers players were questioning Beilein’s coaching methods and comparing his gameplan to that of college basketball. Beilein took the Cavaliers job after coaching the Michigan Wolverines from 2007 to 2019.

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    Thompson, who has played for the Cavaliers since 2012, appeared to be ready to fight anyone questioning his coach’s methods, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

    “Y’all better find them names ‘cause I’ll pull up on ‘em right now,” he told reporters. “You can’t do that s—t.

    “At the end of the day, if you’re going to build a culture and a family, you can’t have that Chatty Patty s—t going on. That s—t is whack to me. Everyone’s got to look in the mirror, there’s only so much coach can do and there’s only so much we can do.

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    “Do we have the best roster in the NBA? No. But we’re going to go out there and compete every night. Guys got to look in the mirror. So I hope whoever reported that was just bulls—ting and blamed it on a player.”

    Cleveland has been one of the worst teams in the NBA since LeBron James left to go to the Los Angeles Lakers. The team only had 19 wins last season and is on pace for another disappointing season.

    As of Wednesday, Cleveland is 5-18.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    Thompson has been one of the players involved in trade rumors. According to Sports Illustrated, the Toronto Raptors have “high interest” in acquiring the forward.

    Tristan Thompson defends Cavaliers coach John Beilein from detractors: ‘I’ll pull up on ’em right now’

    Tristan Thompson is ready to defend coach John Beilein from all detractors even if it’s coming from his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates.

    Thompson was asked Friday about a report that anonymous Cavaliers players were questioning Beilein’s coaching methods and comparing his gameplan to that of college basketball. Beilein took the Cavaliers job after coaching the Michigan Wolverines from 2007 to 2019.

    ATLANTA HAWKS’ TRAE YOUNG DECLARES GAME OVER BEFORE MIAMI HEAT’S FURIOUS COMEBACK WIN

    Thompson, who has played for the Cavaliers since 2012, appeared to be ready to fight anyone questioning his coach’s methods, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

    “Y’all better find them names ‘cause I’ll pull up on ‘em right now,” he told reporters. “You can’t do that s—t.

    “At the end of the day, if you’re going to build a culture and a family, you can’t have that Chatty Patty s—t going on. That s—t is whack to me. Everyone’s got to look in the mirror, there’s only so much coach can do and there’s only so much we can do.

    CARMELO ANTHONY SAYS HE WARNED CHRIS PAUL TO ‘BE CAREFUL’ AFTER DEPARTURE FROM ROCKETS

    “Do we have the best roster in the NBA? No. But we’re going to go out there and compete every night. Guys got to look in the mirror. So I hope whoever reported that was just bulls—ting and blamed it on a player.”

    Cleveland has been one of the worst teams in the NBA since LeBron James left to go to the Los Angeles Lakers. The team only had 19 wins last season and is on pace for another disappointing season.

    As of Wednesday, Cleveland is 5-18.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    Thompson has been one of the players involved in trade rumors. According to Sports Illustrated, the Toronto Raptors have “high interest” in acquiring the forward.