Breakers point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright has been charged with grabbing, pushing or mishandling a game official in their Christmas Day Australian NBL game.

The incident happened late in the fourth quarter of the Breakers’ 97-82 loss to Tasmania.

Jackson-Cartwright was knocked to the floor by former Breaker Reuben Te Rangi with 3:33 remaining in Wednesday’s game in Hobart. In response the American import got to his feet and charged at Te Rangi before referees stepped in.

One official was knocked over while attempting to restrain Jackson-Cartwright.

Their altercation was defused as the officials separated both players away from one another. Neither player was ejected from the game.

The NBL Game Review Panel (GRP) has since completed its assessment of the incident and Jackson-Cartwright has been referred directly to a single member tribunal.

Jackson-Cartwright will face the tribunal on Saturday evening and could face suspension.

There is nothing explicit in the NBL’s rules that prohibits players from touching match officials and players will frequently make light contact as they address a referee during basketball’s regular stoppages.

The Breakers are on an eight-game losing streak and any time without Jackson-Cartwright - who is their leading point-scorer and one of the competition leaders in assists - will be a blow to their play-off chances.

With 11 games to play in their regular season, the Breakers are two wins out of the top six, where they must finish to feature in the play-in tournament.

The Breakers’ next game is against the Cairns Taipans, who are the only side lower on the ladder than they are, on New Year’s Eve.