Dillon Brooks Ejected for Kick on Murray

Dillon Brooks was ejected from Phoenix’s NBA Cup opener against Denver after officials ruled his kick to Jamal Murray’s groin was “unnecessary and excessive.” The play came with 8:05 left in the third quarter, and Brooks’ offensive foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 2. He finished with 22 points in 21 minutes as the Suns trailed 84-76. Brooks was scorching before the exit, hitting 9 of 12 shots and 4 of 6 threes. Phoenix entered Saturday at 1-2, with Chris Haynes reporting “frustration” over the team’s by-committee offense instead of using a traditional point guard. The Suns return to NBA Cup play Nov. 20 in Salt Lake City.