Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was ejected during a game against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, November 22nd after making contact with Pistons' Isaiah Stewart in the face.
The ejection is only the second in James' career, the first coming in 2017 for comments made to a referee.
Sunday's altercation occurred with 9:18 remaining in the third quarter and the Lakers trailing 78-66 in Detroit. As a free throw was being attempted, James swung his arm backward while boxing out for a rebound, hitting Stewart.
The foul led to a prolonged game stoppage while Stewart, with blood coming down his face, had to be held back by Detroit coaches and players as he tried to confront James on several occasions. Stewart was also ejected from the game. The Lakers would go on to win 121-116.
Lakers teammate Anthony Davis came to the defense of James after the game, saying that James isn't a "dirty guy" and that he wasn't sure why Stewart reacted the way he did.
"I've never, in 10 years, seen a player try to do that as long as I've been playing, at least in basketball. It's uncalled for. You got a cut above your eye, accidental, like, it wasn't on purpose. And we weren't going to allow him to keep charging our brother like that," Davis said.
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said he spoke to James in the locker room after the game. "Yeah, that's really something that should stay in the locker room," Vogel said. "I mean, I talked to him, yup, but I'm not going to disclose what his message was." NBA league officials will now review footage of the incident to determine whether fines or suspensions are in order.
Elsewhere on Sunday night, the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks 97-91, while the Phoenix Suns recorded their 12th consecutive win with a 126-97 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
The Chicago Bulls picked up their fourth win in five games by narrowly beating the New York Knicks 109-103, and Andrew Wiggins inspired in a 32-point performance for the Golden State Warriors in their 119-104 win over the Toronto Raptors.