Anything goes with trash talking in sports, but just don't comment about a player's mother.
Matt Barnes did just that, reportedly hurling a curse at James Harden's mom during Game 2 of the Houston Rockets-Los Angeles Clippers' playoff series on Wednesday night.
According to TMZ Sports, Harden's older brother interjected and forced Barnes to apologize, which the Clippers' small forward did.
"My older son walked over to him and told him to apologize," Harden's mom Monja Willis told TMZ Sports. "And he did. What he told me was that he would never want to disrespect anyone's mother because his mother passed from cancer...and that he was sorry. I accept his apology."
Barnes certainly has a reputation for being a thorn in players' side with a reputation for carrying a mean streak...but making a remark toward a player's mom? Come on, Matt. Be better than that, man.
The small forward has mixed it up with many players through the years.
Barnes did this to Kobe Bryant years back.
He also got involved in this scrap.
Barnes was also ejected for this hard foul on Kevin Love.
And there was this skirmish with Serge Ibaka two years ago.
We think you get our point. All being said, it's one thing to scrap with players and Barnes is an effective, valuable player that is willing to do the dirty work that other players won't. However, spewing venom to a player's mom...and so close to Mother's Day...is out of bounds. At least he apologized.
Don't be surprised if Game 3 between the Rockets and Clippers on Friday night carries a dose of bad blood.
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