Even if the Houston Rockets had pulled off a win against the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, they would have likely been without center Dwight Howard for the following game.
The NBA announced on Friday that Howard has been suspended for the first game of the 2015-16 season for throwing an elbow at Andre Iguodala.
HOU's D. Howard has common foul upgraded to Flagrant 1 (WCF Game 5, 3:35/qtr 4), suspended one game to open 2015-16 regular season.
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) May 29, 2015
Originally, and quite possibly ridiculously so, this play was ruled a common foul by the officiating crew on Wednesday night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlKQ1YYWbgA
A flagrant foul would have seen Howard suspended for the following game and potentially ejected immediately.
Upon further review, the league office decided that Howard’s foul was flagrant. Hence, the one-game suspension he will have to serve to start next season.
Howard was in the midst of a bunch of questionable plays during the Western Conference Finals. Earlier in the series, he punched Warriors center Andrew Bogut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu6espUntH0
There is absolutely no room in the game of basketball for this crap.
Not a good look, “champ.”
Good to see the NBA admit error here.
Photo: USA Today Sports