J.R. declares Twitter war on Pistons' Jennings

Seth Wenig/AP

J.R. Smith lets loose on Brandon Jennings over comments made about his brother and Knicks teammate, Chris Smith.

The newest Knicks starter might have really started something now.

J.R. Smith, who made his first start of the season in Wednesday's win in Atlanta, appeared to threaten Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings with a dispatch on social media shortly after the victory. Jennings started something with a message on Twitter questioning what the Knicks' Chris Smith is doing on an NBA roster.

J.R. at first came to his brother's defense and then, according to deadspin.com, posted a tweet that read 'might call some of my Number street homies an put #Detroit on smash for a min! #DeadSerious.'

RT @BrandonJennings: Wait wait wait JR smith brother is in the NBA but @PoohJeter & @BBROWNLAU isn't. Call me hater but not Rollin!!!

- Holly MacKenzie (@stackmack) November 14, 2013

The initial dispatch by Jennings read 'Wait wait wait JR smith brother is in the NBA but @PoohJeter & @BBROWNLAU isn't. Call me hater but not Rollin!!!' He is referring to Eugene Jeter and Bobby Brown, who both no longer play in the NBA.

Both that tweet by Jennings and the threat from Smith were deleted, but not before they got reposted by some who follow them on social media.

No respect for these lil kids who pop at the mouth on twitter an then want to delete they tweets! #GrowUp! #ManUp! @TheOnlyCSmith0 #Facts!

- JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) November 14, 2013

The threat could result in either the Knicks or the NBA taking a disciplinary action against Smith. And it wouldn't be the first time. In March of 2012, the NBA fined Smith $25,000 for using Twitter to post an inappropriate photo of a girlfriend with an inappropriate message.

It was before midnight when Smith sent his first message in response to Jennings. It read: 'No respect for these lil kids who pop at the mouth on twitter an then want to delete they tweets! #GrowUp! #ManUp @TheOnlyCSmith0 #Facts!'

Don't hype this it's not beef. It's just basketball talk. I know how twitter get!!!

- BRANDON JENNINGS (@BrandonJennings) November 14, 2013

The Knicks have been very open about the fact that Chris Smith being related to one of the team's stars played some role in the decision to keep him on the roster. They have also said he was deserving.

As things escalated, Jennings seemed to realize he'd started a firestorm. He appeared to try calming the situation with one more twitter dispatch that read 'Don't hype this it's not beef. It's just basketball talk. I know how twitter get!!!'

Perhaps there was something in the air Wednesday night as J.R. Smith wasn't the only NBA player to lose his poise on Twitter. The Los Angeles Clippers' Matt Barnes was ejected for his part in a scuffle during a win over the Thunder and posted a message that included the N-word.

It said 'I love my teammates like family, but I'm DONE standing up for these n-----! All this s--- does is cost me money.'

Barnes apologized Thursday on Twitter.