NBA player ‘lost his damn mind’, hits innocent bystander with mouthguard

Charlotte Hornets star Miles Bridges has lashed out at a fan after he was ejected from the play-in tournament in Atlanta. But he missed.

Miles Bridges' mouthguard hit an innocent bystander. Photo: Fox Sports

The Charlotte Hornets’ Miles Bridges has landed himself in hot water as he exploded after being ejected from his side’s 132-103 play-in loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Ranked 10th in the East, the Hornets were in the game until halftime before the Hawks took control in the third quarter.

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By the fourth quarter, the result was out of the Hornets’ hands and Bridges lost his cool.

Bridges gave a turnover after body contact with a Hawks player, as Trae Young streaked away.

But he slipped, passing it to De’Andre Hunter, who looked ready to slot the easy basket.

Bridges came through to try and stop the shot however and was called for goaltending and gave away a foul.

It was too much for the Hornets star as he erupted at the referee, swearing at the official and getting ejected from the match.

The home Atlanta crowd too great pleasure in the ejection and one man wearing a yellow and leaning over the player’s tunnel took it too far as Bridges threw his mouthguard at the man.

Only he missed, accidentally hitting a 16-year-old girl in the face.

Charlotte Observer’s Scott Fowler reported she did not want to share her name but that all the people in her section labelled the situation “gross”.

It was quickly circulating around the internet, including at Barstool Sports who said Bridges “lost his damn mind” in the incident.

Bridges was furious. Photo: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images/AFP

But after cooling down, Bridges wanted to make amends, taking to Twitter to ask the girl to get in contact with him.

Somebody get me in contact with the young lady. That’s unacceptable. https://t.co/MlLZjMgcBF

— Miles Bridges (@MilesBridges) April 14, 2022

Social media was quick to react to the situation.

Mid-Michigan Now’s Johnathan Deutsch tweeted: “Good on you, Miles Bridges! He knows he made a mistake and is now going to try to make up for it.”

WCNC’s Nick Carboni added: “Bridges showing immediate remorse for that and taking responsibility, which is no surprise.”

Dallas Morning News’ Brad Townsend took aim at the yellow hat fan: “Dufus fan taunting Bridges and then acting like Mr. Innocent.”

Bridges was full of remorse after the game and said it was frustration at a few calls going against him.

“I was aiming for the guy that was screaming at me and it hit a little girl,” Bridges said in his press conference.

“So that’s definitely unacceptable on my part and I take full responsibility.

“That’s out of character for me. You’ve been around me; I don’t act like that or ever flash out like that. So that was definitely wrong, a lot of emotions and hopefully I can get in contact with the young girl and sincerely apologise to her and do something nice for her, but that’s definitely on me.”

Trae Young is a playoffs specialist. Photo: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images/AFP

Young scored 24 points as the Hawks kept their season alive.

A decisive burst of scoring from Young and De’Andre Hunter in the third quarter saw the Hawks take control against an outclassed Charlotte team at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.

Atlanta will now face Cleveland in the final round of the play-in tournament on Friday, where a place in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs — against top-seeded Miami — will be up for grabs.

“We’re clicking at the right time and this is the time to be clicking,” Young said after the blowout. “We’re a good team.”

After edging into a 60-52 halftime lead, Atlanta effectively sealed victory with a devastating third quarter performance, outscoring the Hornets 42-24 and racing into a lead that stretched to 26 points at one stage.

Hunter and Young combined for 30 of those points in the third quarter, Hunter scoring 16 and Young adding 14, including three from outside the arc.

Hunter finished with 22 points as Atlanta’s balanced offence once again shared the scoring around.

In Wednesday’s other play-in game, the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the San Antonio Spurs 113-103 in another sudden death elimination game.

The Pelicans game will advance to a clash with the Los Angeles Clippers for a place in the Western Conference playoffs and a meeting against top seeds Phoenix.

With AFP

Originally published as NBA player ‘lost his damn mind’, hits innocent bystander with mouthguard