The Brooklyn Nets pulled off a gritty victory against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, 105-98. Kevin Durant, as per usual, stuffed the stat sheet to get the W, posting 22 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists to help their cause.

But according to the NBA crew chief officiating for the evening, Durant shouldn't have even been in the game for the final 17 minutes. That's because the Nets star threw the ball into the crowd with force during the third quarter, a violation that was reportedly enough to get him ejected outright.

The Nets star was assessed a technical foul on the play, but that punishment was actually light based on the letter of the law in the NBA rule book. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle even lobbied for it during the game, to no avail.

That's certainly tough luck for the Pacers. After starting the season with two backbreaking 1-point losses, they are now tied for the second worst record in the league at 1-5.

The Nets, meanwhile, have been inconsistent thus far. They've faced six difference Eastern Conference rivals, alternating a loss with a win every time for a mediocre 3-3 record.

With the Kyrie Irving controversy still hovering over their heads, and James Harden still adjusting to the league's new foul rules, the Nets are still rounding into midseason form. But given the talent on the roster, it's only a matter of time.