Suns’ Markieff, Marcus Morris under investigation in a felony assault

Brothers Markieff and Marcus Morris of the Phoenix Suns are under investigation in a felony aggravated assault, the Maricopa County attorney’s office told the Arizona Republic on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old twin brothers have not been arrested and no charges have been formally filed in the case, which stems from an alleged confrontation between the Morrises and a man who they claimed sent “inappropriate” text messages to their mother, authorities said.

According to the police report, the brothers deny attacking the victim, and their mother says she did not have contact with the man who allegedly was attacked. Police told the newspaper that they have evidence that disputes their version of events.

Erik Hood told police he was assaulted by the brothers in January. He said a group of five people attacked him outside a Phoenix recreation and sports complex. Hood later identified Julius Kane, 25, and the Morris twins as part of the group who attacked him. A woman who was with Hood also identified Kane and the Morris brothers as among the attackers, the police report said.

Markieff Morris admitted to being at the sports complex watching a basketball game featuring a team he and his brother sponsor. But he denied having any role in the attack.

Hood, who said he was a former mentor to the brothers during their high-school playing days in Philadelphia, suffered a broken nose and abrasions to his head and back, records show.

Selected in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft, both Morris brothers are in the first year of four-year contracts with the Suns. Markieff is averaging 15.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this season and Marcus is averaging 10.5 points and 4.6 rebound per game.

The Suns announced Wednesday that the team is aware of the investigation.

“We have no information beyond what has been alleged in the police report and therefore have no further comment on the matter at this time,” said Lon Babby, Suns president of basketball operations, in a statement. “Our organization will closely monitor developments as the legal process unfolds.”