The NBA announced Monday that James Harden, guard for the Houston Rockets, has been suspended without pay for one game after kicking LeBron James, forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers, in the groin during Sunday night’s game. The Rockets won the game in overtime, 105-103.
The kick occurred in the third quarter of the game with 2:08 left after James tried to strip the ball from Harden. After falling to the floor, Harden kicked James below the belt. A Flagrant 1 foul was called on Harden, which gave the Cavaliers two free throws and the ball. However, Harden was not taken out of the game.
The NBA has now changed that foul to a Flagrant 2 foul. Rod Thorn, the NBA’s President of Basketball Operations, announced that Harden will miss Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks. It will be the first game Harden has missed all season.
“Obviously that’s not a basketball play,” James said Sunday. “Obviously, the league will probably take a look at it. I have no idea why he would do that, but two competitors just trying to go at it, and he won this one.”
Watch the play below:
