Nearly 20 minutes after the Mavericks' 88-81 victory over the Jazz was completed, witnesses said Stackhouse was standing in the tunnel that leads to the Utah team bus talking to his wife. Accounts varied on what happened next. But this much is certain: Stackhouse and Utah rookie Kirk Snyder, who exchanged words during the game, quickly came to blows.
Mavericks officials and security guards were still piecing together information late Saturday night. But there were reports that the fight lasted up to 40 seconds. Security officials from all over American Airlines Center rushed to break up the confrontation, and there were reports that Stackhouse knocked Snyder to the ground at one point.
The Mavericks said they were continuing to investigate and would not issue a statement until they were clear on what happened. The club did leave a voice mail with the league office early this morning to let it know about the altercation.
The league will conduct its own investigation. Historically, the NBA office levies fines and/or suspensions in these matters.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban met with three other club officials before emerging from an office shortly before midnight.
"Something happened," Cuban said. "Stack said he was defending himself. It started in the game. He was there with his wife.
"All we know is something happened. We're hearing varying stories. There is really nothing to say until we investigate it further and see what happens."
An irate Stackhouse was escorted back to the locker room by teammates Josh Howard and Michael Finley. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was informed of the fight by a reporter upon leaving the Utah locker room. He rushed to the team bus, where he and the rest of the coaching staff pulled the rookie off the bus.
Snyder was bleeding as he spoke to Sloan. Afterward, Sloan declined to say much other than Snyder told him he was not the guilty party.
This isn't the first incident for Snyder. Nearly two weeks ago, he was removed from a game against Houston when he began taunting the Rockets' bench. Sloan apologized to the Rockets and informally suspended Snyder for Utah's next game.
The fight overshadowed the fact the win clinched home-court advantage for the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.
Mavericks officials and security guards were still piecing together information late Saturday night. But there were reports that the fight lasted up to 40 seconds. Security officials from all over American Airlines Center rushed to break up the confrontation, and there were reports that Stackhouse knocked Snyder to the ground at one point.
The Mavericks said they were continuing to investigate and would not issue a statement until they were clear on what happened. The club did leave a voice mail with the league office early this morning to let it know about the altercation.
The league will conduct its own investigation. Historically, the NBA office levies fines and/or suspensions in these matters.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban met with three other club officials before emerging from an office shortly before midnight.
"Something happened," Cuban said. "Stack said he was defending himself. It started in the game. He was there with his wife.
"All we know is something happened. We're hearing varying stories. There is really nothing to say until we investigate it further and see what happens."
An irate Stackhouse was escorted back to the locker room by teammates Josh Howard and Michael Finley. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was informed of the fight by a reporter upon leaving the Utah locker room. He rushed to the team bus, where he and the rest of the coaching staff pulled the rookie off the bus.
Snyder was bleeding as he spoke to Sloan. Afterward, Sloan declined to say much other than Snyder told him he was not the guilty party.
This isn't the first incident for Snyder. Nearly two weeks ago, he was removed from a game against Houston when he began taunting the Rockets' bench. Sloan apologized to the Rockets and informally suspended Snyder for Utah's next game.
The fight overshadowed the fact the win clinched home-court advantage for the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.
