With Game 7 in the steadiness Sunday, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus randomly headbutted (*2*) All-Star Scottie Barnes.
Strus was issued a flagrant 1 foul after a replay evaluate. He was lucky to have averted a flagrant 2 penalty and an ejection.
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The incident occurred late in the third quarter because the Cavaliers held a 76-61 lead. Cleveland had simply scored a bucket, and Barnes took the inbounds go beneath the basket on Toronto’s ensuing possession.
Then — apparently unprovoked — Strus leaned down and drove the crown of his head into Barnes’ chin.
Here’s the total sequence.
Officials instantly blew the play useless earlier than the NBC broadcast realized what had occurred. Stus was initially known as for a private foul that was upgraded to a flagrant 1 upon evaluate.
Strus pleaded his case earlier than the evaluate, but it surely’s arduous to clarify it as something aside from what it was — an unprovoked headbutt to the face of an opponent.
The results of the flagrant 1 foul was two free throws for Barnes and retention of possession by the Raptors.
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Barnes hit each free throws after which hit a soar shot for a four-point possession that reduce Cleveland’s lead 76-65. But might have ended up a lot worse for Strus and the Cavaliers.
It’s troublesome to argue that Strus’ headbutt was any type of basketball play. It might have — and doubtless ought to have — resulted in a flagrant 2 penalty and Strus’ ejection.
But Strus was allowed to stay in the sport because the Cavaliers and Raptors battled down the stretch with a visit to the second spherical of the playoffs at stake.