Game Features Real Gym Rat

The Utah Jazz’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers was interrupted briefly Saturday night when a rat was thrown onto the court.

Utah’s Karl Malone was about to take his second of two free throws with 4:13 left in the second quarter when the rat landed on the court. It was thrown from the top of the lower deck and skidded to a stop at Malone’s feet.

Malone was startled and took a step back, while teammate Scott Padgett walked over and kicked the rat under the front row next to the Jazz bench. Utah assistant trainer Terry Clark scooped up the dead rodent in a towel and disposed of it.

The person responsible for throwing the rat ran from the arena and went across the street to a shopping complex, where he eluded security guards.