LeBron James was sent off in the third quarter of his Lakers’ game in Detroit. Fighting in rebound with the opposing center Isaiah Stewart, the number 6 threw a hand with a closed fist on the face of the Pistons long, opening a cut from which blood came out. Stewart then tried to get justice for himself, causing a maxi-brawl and trying 3 times to free himself from those who were holding him to try the physical confrontation with the ace of the Los Angeles Lakers. Both have been expelled: this is the second time in his career for James. Down by 12 points at the start of the third quarter of the challenge with the Detroit Pistons, the Los Angeles Lakers’ season could be definitively changed.
After restoring calm, the referees led by Scott Foster decided to send James off for a flagrant type 2 foul (for “unnecessary and excessive contact above the level of the shoulders”) and Stewart himself for a double technical foul (for “multiple non-sporting behaviors during the altercation”), plus a technician to Russell Westbrook for the role of “agitator and not peacemaker during the episode”.
This is James’ second expulsion in 19 years of career: the last time was on November 28, 2017 against the Miami Heat for double coaching and protests against a referee. James still closed with 10 points on the scoresheet, extending his streak of double-digit games to 1,048, while the Lakers won the game (116-121) with a crazy comeback from -15 in the last quarter.