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Celtics-Wizards Get into Vicious Nose-Booping Fight After Game

The Celtics' Jae Crowder and the Wizards' John Wall got into a scuffle on Wednesday night, but it was mostly a reminder that nobody really brawls in the NBA anymore.

It has been a decade since we saw a real fight in the NBA. A league that once valued and required enforcer types like Charles Oakley and Rick Mahorn is now laid-back and peaceful. Everyone has reached a detente: pushing and shoving during games, but hugs and handshakes afterward. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It's dumb for players to get into actual fights—these are grown men, after all, and almost all of them have pretty much made it in life—but it is entertaining when they come close.

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Just look at the Boston Celtics' Jae Crowder and the Washington Wizards' John Wall on Wednesday night. One second they're jawing after their game, and then BOOP! Crowder pokes Wall in the nose. Oh no, here comes the "hold me back" scuffle. That's cute.

You don't stick your finger in another man's face. Period. And John Wall certainly ain't that guy, Jae Crowder. — Hoop District (@HoopDistrictDC)January 12, 2017

"I was just standing there—just standing there," Wall said. "I had just said, 'What up?' to (Isaiah Thomas) and then I was walking back toward my locker room."

"Just some altercation," Wall added. "We knew there was going to be some trash talking. We knew it was going to be physical game. That's all it was. Just a little trash talking and a physical game."

It did get heated in Boston. The two teams have some history with each other, and precautions were taken. You can never be too safe.

Five Boston police officers standing between Celtics and Wizards locker room after teams were barking at each other after buzzer.

— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg)January 12, 2017

Isaiah Thomas walks by: 'They can't F--- with a real killer.' Not sure what that means but emotions kinda high. — J. Michael (@JMichaelCSN)January 12, 2017

Now, Thomas, that's the one guy I wouldn't want to fight. He seems like a 5-foot-9 Mike Tyson. Actually, that just makes him Tyson.

The best thing about fake fights is that everyone can say they're a winner. But if you want to watch an actual NBA fight, here is what it looks like.

Thank God the league legislated stuff like this out of our lives.