Mandatory credit: Michael Hickey-USA TODAY Sports

After being out of action for almost nine months with a knee tendon injury, All-Star Danny Granger is back with the Indiana Pacers and ready to help the team make a strong push towards the NBA Playoffs.

A lot changed while Danny was recovering from his injuries. Pacers forward Paul George has taken over as the go-to guy on offense, being named to his first Eastern Conference All-Star team in the process.

Indiana currently owns a record of 36-21, which is first in the Central Division (four games ahead of the Chicago Bulls) and second in the East (six games back of the Miami Heat).

George is averaging career-highs in points (17.6), rebounds (7.9), assists (4.0), steals (1.8) and blocks (0.7). He’s also shooting a stellar 38.2% from behind-the-arc.

With Paul taking on a much larger and more important role in the team’s game plan, Danny has decided to put any ego he has to the side, and drop his status as the “franchise-player” to George.

Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a good ole’ fashioned melee in the NBA.

Late in the fourth quarter of the Indiana Pacers 108-97 home victory over the Golden State Warriors last night, a skirmish broke out between Warriors All-Star forward David Lee and Pacers center Roy Hibbert.

It began with Hibbert taking offense to a late push by Lee, which then led to both players shoving each other back and forth.

More players got involved, including a surging Stephen Curry, who made an attempt to separate the 7’2, 280 pound Hibbert from his teammates.

Roy then proceeded to toss Stephen to the ground in a violent manner. The brawl eventually made its way to the fans courtside, before being broken up by officials.

Here’s a look at the events that transpired, in its entirety.

Hibbert was assessed two technical fouls, which equals an automatic ejection. Technical fouls were also handed out to Lee, Curry, David West and Klay Thompson.

TWITTER REACTION

Roy Hibbert fight like he the Bad News Brown god bless him

— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) February 27, 2013

Roy hibbert showed more fire and passion in the brawl tonight then he has playing ball in 2 years!!

— Justin Daniels (@showtime352c) February 27, 2013

Som1 almost got trampled lol

— Danny Green (@DGreen_14) February 27, 2013

Pacers-Warriors brawl not as bad as it looked at first. Too much density of players and lots of pushing around.

— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) February 27, 2013

I wish Roy Hibbert woulda dropped David Lee.

— Reid Chwalek (@Merlin_Da_Wzrd) February 27, 2013

Roy Hibbert also wouldn’t pay Tom Haverford’s tab, so he’s always kind of been mean to skinny guys.

— Taco Trey Kerby (@treykerby) February 27, 2013

@hoya2apacer #area55 ‘s got your back big homie, you were just defending yourself, too bad we had some d-league refs out there.

— PacersWildman (@Jaxon91) February 27, 2013

Based on his heavy involvement and ejection, I would think that some sort of suspension is in order for Roy Hibbert. One to two games seems fair, considering he was the instigator of it all.

Since no one else was ejected from the game, I doubt any other Pacers or Warriors players will see any heavy punishments from the league.

Chris Walder is the Editor of Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter at @WalderSports

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