Tempers nearly got the best of the Thunder and Blazers during the third quarter of their battle on Sunday night, with Evan Turner in particular playing a role in potentially escalating what was already a volatile situation.

After Ed Davis and Ferguson got involved in a brief shoving match, Turner came from the other end of the floor and doled out a few shoves of his own. He, Davis, Westbrook and Ferguson were each given technical fouls.

After the game, Raymond Felton voiced his own displeasure over the fact that of all players, the 19-year-old Ferguson was the target of bullying by the Trail Blazers.

Apparently, Turner also felt badly enough about it to seek Ferguson out after the game and offer to pay the rookie’s fine.

“I was just looking, my teammate was surrounded and that was it,” Turner said.

“I saw a push and I just pushed the next two people I saw. Obviously, all that stuff is stupid, but you know, of course there’s other ways to step up and draw the line.”

Although the situation could have gotten worse, it deescalated.

“He’s probably 10 years younger than me,” Turner said in reference to Ferguson.

“I told him I’d pay his fine, things just happen. It’s basketball, there’s nothing much more to it, clearly. I respect those guys over there, they compete, it’s just a hard-fought game, there’s really nothing more to really drag on from this, it’s a frat.”

In the end, it was probably easy for Turner to feel generous, as the Blazers walked away with the first sweep of the Thunder since the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City.

“I feel bad in general… Literally, I just pushed the first two people I saw. Me personally, I don’t feel any good about the pushing.”

newsletter Get 10 hot stories each day Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation. Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.