Kendrick Perkins and Drake had a heated confrontation on the sidelines of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. (Reuters via USA Today Sports)
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors battled it out in the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinals, but it was a war of words on the sideline that stole the show Tuesday.
Kendrick Perkins was seen trading barbs with rap superstar Drake, who is also the Raptors’ global ambassador, at halftime and again at the end of the game.
Video showed the two men exchanging words and Cavaliers guard Jose Calderon, who used to play for the Raptors, standing in front of Drake during the halftime exchange.
WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
Drake acting tough and barking at Kendrick Perkins may not end well for him. pic.twitter.com/LZsJHQQVXp
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) May 2, 2018
The heated exchange between Perkins and Drake grew even hotter at the end of the Cavaliers’ 112-110 overtime win.
Drake and Kendrick Perkins exchanged more words postgame pic.twitter.com/Z0rdXDe1uL
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 2, 2018
Perkins told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski in a text message after the game that he was only trying to talk some trash to his old teammate, Serge Ibaka, at halftime when Drake got in the middle.
“What happened was I was talking to my old teammate, Serge, walking into halftime telling him ‘We about to win this game,’ and Drake butted in talking s--- to me. So I said something back to him,” Perkins said.
Drake fired back in a since-deleted Instagram post, saying “I just said I liked the hem on his capris.”
It’s unclear if Perkins or Drake will face any sort of punishment from the NBA.
Perkins didn’t play in Game 1.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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