The confrontation resulted in double technical problems for both Hartenstein and Jackson, although viewers may have been confused as to what actually triggered it. A play earlier, Jackson came around a Hartenstein screen and beat Gilgeous-Alexander when he missed a jumper and appeared to land awkwardly.

But the blame came after an innocuous play in which Giannis Antetokounmpo lost his footing in the lane and then called a timeout. As the Greek Freak lay on the ground, he appeared confused as to why both teams had to be separated. However, since it was a basketball match, there was no risk for anyone to actually throw or receive a shot.

While there is no best teammate award for the NBA Cup, Hartenstein appears to be making a case for the title. In the Thunder’s semifinal win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday, Cason Wallace received a technical foul for a confrontation with Alperen Sengun.

After the game, Hartenstein offered to cover whatever the NBA docked Wallace for technical reasons.

Even though there wasn’t a physical showdown between Hartenstein and Jackson, the OKC center may have hoped that standing up for his teammate could turn around his team’s poor shooting from behind the arc. The Thunder shot 1-for-17 from three-point range in the first half of Monday’s NBA Cup Final, trailing 51-50 at halftime despite hitting 63 percent of their three-point shots.

The only question is whether these technical data will be factored into Hartenstein and Jackson’s season results. The wins, losses and player stats from this final game do not count in the record books. As for the fines, the two players hope the Ts don’t count either.