Kristaps Porzingis: New York Knicks star gets into scuffle with Anthony Randolph

Sept. 13 (UPI) -- New York Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis got into it with a former Knicks player Tuesday at the European Championships.

Porzingis was suiting up for Latvia in a 103-97 loss to Slovenia in the quarterfinals of the EuroBasket2017 tournament in Istanbul.

With about 8 seconds remaining in the contest, Porzingis and Anthony Randolph battled for a rebound. They hooked arms and Randolph pulled Porzingis. They both received technical fouls after being separated.

Randolph "was playing dirty from the beginning," Porzingis told Eurohoops.net. "He was trash-talking. What happened in the end was natural."

Slovenia sensation Luka Doncic, thought by some as a possible future No. 1 pick, scored 27 points and had nine rebounds in the win.

Porzingis scored a game-high 34 points. He shot 12-of-21 from the floor and had six rebounds. Randolph scored 16 points and had nine rebounds. Miami Heat star Goran Dragic netted 27 points and eight assists for Slovenia.

"That's why [Doncic] is the best at his age," Dragic told the FIBA website after the game. "He's only 18 years of age but he plays with such calmness. People back home are really happy we have him. I'm his roommate...don't get me wrong, he's still a kid. He watches cartoons, he watches Friends but he's unbelievable and we are lucky to have him."

Randolph, 28, was the No. 14 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. He averaged 2.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 17 games for the Knicks in 2010, but never started for the franchise. He also played for the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets, averaging 7.1 points per game during his six-year NBA career.

Porzingis, 22, has more points (2,224) through his first two seasons than Randolph had during his entire NBA tenure (1,789).

The Knicks begin training camp on Sept. 25. Slovenia and Spain faceoff in a tournament semifinal matchup on Thursday.