CLEVELAND (AP) -Washington Wizards center Brendan Haywood was ejected in the third quarter of Monday night’s Game 2 against Cleveland for a hard foul on LeBron James, the most flagrant foul in a series already full of them.
With 6:59 left, James was driving to the basket when Haywood came across the lane and shoved the All-Star with both hands without going for the ball. The officials called a flagrant 2 foul, leading to Haywood’s automatic ejection. The play can be reviewed and Haywood could face a possible suspension.
The Wizards’ game plan coming into the series – their third opening-round matchup with Cleveland in as many years – was to be rough with James whenever he got near the basket. In Game 1, they sent James to the free throw line 14 times.
Tensions have been high between the teams for weeks, fueled by comments from DeShawn Stevenson and Gilbert Arenas of the Wizards.
Game 1, which Cleveland won 93-86, was chippy from the start and Haywood and James had an altercation just before halftime. In the first half of Game 2, Arenas was called for a technical foul and Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao was given a flagrant foul.
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