Tony Allen delivered haymakers to the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday night with his defense and stunning 3-point shooting. But on the Grizzlies' team flight home from Los Angeles on Monday, Allen hit teammate O.J. Mayo with several punches in an altercation that began over a gambling debt.
Mayo and Allen were involved in a card game that left Mayo owing Allen between $1,000 and $1,500, according to a source. Mayo refused to pay and repeatedly insulted Allen.
Allen then went to the restroom and returned to Mayo acting more belligerent about losing. Sources said Allen had enough and "jumped on" Mayo in a physical altercation that had to be stopped by teammates.
The fight was described as one-sided as Allen repeatedly struck Mayo, who missed Tuesday's game because of "bronchitis." Mayo's potential injuries as a result of the fight are unknown and neither player was disciplined.
Both players met with coach Lionel Hollins after the team landed in Memphis late Monday afternoon. Allen apologized to the team and general manager Chris Wallace. A source said the situation would not linger and cited Mayo's encouraging text messages to Allen during and after the Grizzlies' win over the Thunder.
Wallace released this statement late Tuesday night: "On the team's charter flight home to Memphis on Monday, Jan. 3, one day after the Grizzlies' 104-85 victory at the Los Angeles Lakers, there was a brief altercation between Tony Allen and O.J. Mayo. The club considers the matter closed and will not comment further."