A WASHINGTON Wizards fan was tackled and arrested on Monday night after running on the court in the latest example of unruly supporter behavior since the NBA re-opened its stands to large crowds.

The incident unfolded as the Wizards were advancing towards the Philadelphia 76ers' basket in the third quarter of Game 4 inside the Capital One Arena on Monday night.

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The fan charged down from the stands and ran onto the floor near midcourt.

He raced towards the basket and touched the backboard before being tackled by a security worker.

The fan was escorted away from the court and handcuffed in the tunnel.

Play resumed after a brief pause, but the incident struck the ire of Wizards' players and the team's head coach, Scott Brooks, who called the fan's behavior "barbaric".

Speaking to any fans who seek to cause trouble in the stands, Brooks said: "Stay home. We don’t need you. We don’t need your dollars. Just stay home.

"Get away from us. Let the fans who enjoy it, let them be with their families enjoying it."

Where is security?

Fan ran down the steps onto the floor which is supposed to be for Covid tested fans only

Looks like all he wanted to do is tap the glass. Stupidity

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 1, 2021

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Wizards forward Rui Hachimura said he isn't sure what the fan "was trying to do" but called for supporters to be more respectful.

"I think they're just excited to come back. But they've got to be more respectful of us as players. They think they can do whatever they want."

Shooting guard Bradley Beal took a similar stance, insisting there is "no place" for disrespectful fans.

"Either you sit there and enjoy the game or just sit at home and watch it on TV," he said. "We’re fortunate nobody got hurt and the security did its job, did a hell of a job to get him down, get him out of there."

The DC Police Department is pursuing charges against the fan and he has been banned indefinitely from the Capital One Arena, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, who own the Wizards, announced yesterday.

"Monumental Sports & Entertainment has a zero-tolerance policy when fans violate our code of conduct at Capital One Arena," the group said in a statement. "He will be banned from the arena and charges are being pursued with DC MPD."

Monday night's run-in was just the latest in a string of fan incidents that have occurred during the NBA playoffs over the last week.

Sixers fan threw popcorn at Russell Westbrook

The first incident came in Game 2 between the Sixers and the Wizards when Russell Westbrook had popcorn dumped on his head as he walked out towards the locker room after getting injured.

The fan, who has not been named, was a season ticket holder for the 76ers. They have been banned from the Wells Fargo Center and had their season ticket revoked.

"We apologize to Russell Westbrook and the Washington Wizards for being subjected to this type of unacceptable and disrespectful behavior," the team said in a statement on May 26.

"There is no place for it in our sport or arena."

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Westbrook also addressed the incident, telling reporters: "I'm all for the fans enjoying the game, having fun, it's a part of sports - I get it but there are certain things that cross the line.

"Any other setting, I know a guy on the street wouldn't come up and dump popcorn on my head because he knows what would happen," Westbrook said.

"In these areas, you got to start protecting the players. We'll see what the NBA does."

Trae Young spat at by Knicks fan

On the same night, in New York City, a Knicks fan spat at Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young from the second row of the stands inside Madison Square Garden.

In doing so, he ended up spitting over those sitting courtside, which included rapper 50 Cent.

After the game, Young called the incident "crazy" and "childish".

The Knicks later released a statement that said: "We investigated the matter and determined that this patron, who is not a season ticket holder, did indeed spit on Trae Young, and for that reason, he is now banned from The Garden indefinitely.

"This was completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our venue. We have turned the information over to the appropriate authorities."

But the carnage in the stands hasn't stopped there.

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Ja Morant's family 'abused' by Jazz fans

On Wednesday, three Utah Jazz fans were banned for life after allegedly hurling racist and sexist remarks towards the family members of Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant.

His father, Tee Morant, said there were three separate incidents with male Jazz fans, adding that each was handled quickly by arena security.

"I know heckling," he told ESPN. "We were doing that the whole game. But that's different than heckling. That's straight up disrespectful. That was too far out of line. You don't say nothing like that heckling. That's beyond heckling."

Tee Morant said one fan made a sexually explicit remark to his wife, Jamie.

He said another told him: "I'll put a nickel in your back and watch you dance, boy."

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The third fan who was ejected reportedly yelled at Morant's mother, "Shut the f**k up, b**ch."

The Jazz said it has a zero-tolerance policy for offensive and disruptive behavior and said each incident is under investigation.

"We apologize to all who were impacted by this unfortunate incident and condemn unacceptable fan behavior."

Jazz owner Ryan Smith addressed the Grizzlies and Morant's family on Twitter, writing that the franchise is "embarrassed and sorry."

Morant, himself, called the incident "unacceptable" during a press conference on Friday.

"I got frustrated because obviously, I was telling them to stay cool. But if I knew what they said, I would've just let my family handle business instead of calm them down," he said.

"It's tough on all of us but we move forward."

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Celtics fan arrested for 'throwing bottle at Kyrie Irving'

Finally, a Boston Celtics fan was arrested on Sunday inside the TD Center after a water bottle nearly struck Brooklyn Nets guard - and former Green - Kyrie Irving.

Prior to the Game 4 matchup, Irving, who was anticipating hostility, urged fans not to be belligerent or racist.

Irving was heading towards the tunnel after the Nets triumphed over the Celtics 141-126 when a bottle appeared to be thrown towards his head, but narrowly missed.

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Videos posted to social media showed the fan, later named as Cole Buckley, being led away from the stands in handcuffs.

He has since been charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and is due to appear in court on Tuesday.

“We claim that we care about each other as human beings, but we just call things out before they happen like I did the other day,” Irving said after Sunday’s game. “I’m telling people, ‘Just keep it basketball.’”

Irving said he believes the sport is now at a crossroads.

"It’s been that way in history, in terms of entertainment, performers and sports for a long period of time and just underlying racism and just treating people like they’re in a human zoo,” he said.

“Throwing stuff at them, saying things. There’s a certain point where it just gets to be too much.”

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Following the spate of recent incidents, the NBA has insisted it will be "vigorously" enforcing its fan code of conduct herein.

"The return of more NBA fans to our arenas has brought great excitement and energy to the start of the playoffs, but it is critical that we all show respect for players, officials and our fellow fans," the league said.

"An enhanced fan code of conduct will be vigorously enforced in order to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all involved."

But Wizards coach Scott Brooks has called for stricter punishments than just banning fans.

“Banning them and this and that,” he said on Monday night. “What does that mean? Is there facial recognition that you can’t get a ticket on the secondary market and don’t shave for a week and wear a hat and still come in?

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"I don’t know if there are criminal charges, but they’ve got to get something on their record, and they’ve got to get exposed and they have to pay money out of their own pocket."

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He continued: "There are great fans in Boston and New York and Philly and DC, Utah. But there’s some that just need to, you know what, stay home. Your thinking is barbaric. Stay home."

There are still more than two months of basketball yet to play.